The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-04-11
EaaRgELS CT THE WHEAT PLANT.

Iron has been held by some to be the
true symbol of civilization, because nations
produce and use it in proportion to their
social and industrial advancement. A sim
| liar claim has been made for cotton, but
by the taskmaster only But the wheat
plant is the only true symbol. Civilization
began when its cultivation commenced
No savage nations cultivate it. The
American aborigines had no knowledge of
it, and they quickly remarked the differ
ence between themselves and the English.
saying that the latter lived on seeds, while
they lived on flesh; that the flesh had four
legs on which to escape, while they had
but two with which to pursue, and that
the seed d-erowers would supersede the flesh
eaters. Wherever wheat is cultivated the
nations abandon barbarism. Mechanism
was invoked, even many centuries ago, to
promote, by rude contrivances, both tiilage
and cleaning. The inventor of the sickle
is unknown, but the pioneers of Dutch
commerce in China, there discovered the
winnowing mill, which is now fixture in
every American barn. The wheat plant
has long been, perhaps, the greatest power
in the earth. 1t was the acknowledged
staff of life when the steam engine was
unknown, before single coal mine had
been opened, or the miraculous capacities
of iron had been ascertained. 1t has been
the great power from which human effort,
in all countries, has derived its mightiest
momentum 1t has built turnpikes and
railroads, dug canals, founded cities, COW
cred rivers with steamboats, and the ocean
with ships. Millions of human beings
depend upon it for existence, both as grow
ers and consumers Danish it from the
Garth, and it would be vain to seek for a
substitute. Our teeming West would stop
suddenly short in its wonderful career Of
greatness. Agriculture everywhere would
pause, scarcity be universal and the fact
be recognized that the wheat plant is the
corner stone of civilization.
The oldest history mentions the cultiva-
ton of wheat. But the plant has at no
time, nor in any place, been found growing
wild. Neither is the country of its origin
certainly known. On this point We obtain
light enough from history and botany to
justify the conjecture that its native place
is Persia, and also India. But even on
this point there arc different opinions en-
tertained By able writers. 1t is certainly
not indigenous to America. In 1880, a
slave of Cortez found some grains which
had been accidentally mixed with rice, and
having carefully planted them and their
product for several years, he raised stock
of seed from which all the subsequent
wheat crops of Mexico have been derived
The controversy touching the origin of
wheat has been most animated and volu-
minous. In Sicily wild grass is found,
called by botanists Egtleps oeata, which
some have contended to be the true parent
of wheat 1t is hard, rough looking
grass, which is sometimes gathered in
punches and burnt, and the seeds used for
food. 1t is also found in various other
places, and there are several species of it.
1t was contended that by careful cultiva-
ton the Egilops could be transformed into
wheat This was as vehcmently denied.
It was known, however, that under certain