Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-05


Some Are Good to Eat, Some Are Giants |
and Others Are Poisonous.
VlHE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
l. says that the recent extraordinary rise in
the grain market was not IN the least sur
prising.
This ID the third year Of short wheat crops
everywhere abroad" said Mr.. J. Richards
Dodge, the most eminent authority on such
matters in this country, to STAR reporter yes
terday. 'cNot only has the leftover surplus
been exhausted, but what 10 called the invisi-
BILE reserve supply in the farmers bins has
been used up. The present wheat crop in this
country is unusually big and it must be drawn
upon largely by Europe-particularly England,
which eats enormously more wheat than shs
produces. Hence the rise in price,
IN RUSSIA.
"Russia is the reproducing country Of the
world. The crop is very poor, and the car
has commanded that none Of it shall be ex-
ported. The Germans, who eat rye and not
wheat, are alarmed. The soldiers are grumbling
seriously at the prospect of being obliged to
feed upon wheat bread for lack Of rye bread this
year. Incidentally the few millions of bushels
Of rye grown in the United States have ad-
vanced in value.
CUSTOMS OF DIFFERENT NATIONS.
ut is very curious to observe how the differ
emit nations eat different grains. In the United
States we feed largely upon corn, which in
England is thought to be only good for horses.
A very few years ago we ate no oats; at present
We consume more oatmeal than does any other
people. We don't care much for rye, except
for distilling into whisky. and SO our produc-
ton Of it is comparatively small. Germany
and Russia eat rye, while all Western Europe
feeds upon wheat. Go into German beer sa-
loon and it is always rye bread that you will
rice for their grain. So does India. The latter
also is a large consumer Of millets-grassy-look
ing cereal plants, which are only considered ft
for forage in this country"
GRASSES.
Speaking Of grasses, wheat and rye are both
grasses-there is much that ID most interest
ing to be said respecting them. Corn Is q kind
Of grass, and SO is OATS barley and rice like
wise. In fact all the grains are grasses modi-
fed somewhat and improved as to their seed
bearing by cultivation and crossing of stocks.
The giant Of all the grasses is the bamboo,
| single stems of which attain o length Of ITO
feet and a diameter Of foot. So rapidly does
this plant grow that it will attain a height of
100 feet in sixty days. certain species adding
ten feet to their stature within twenty-four
hours
IN THE SOUTHERN STATES
grass from ten to fifteen feet tall forms i'm
penetrable thickets called canebrakes. Its
leaves are so nutritious that cattle will live all
winter in such jungles with no other food
| The woody stems are sold all over the country
| for fishing poles.
living fountains Of drink to the thirsty traveller
| Its stems reach forty feet in height and 81,
inches in thickness When they are cut they
gush with streams Of cool water.
| The Indians of the Upper Amazon in Soutl
America use a sort Of grass native to those re
| gions for blow pipes. They cut lengths sixteer
followed out, they project with their breati
arrows envenomed with the deadly 'woorarl'
poison.
In India certain aromatic grasses are cult
waited for their delicious fragrance. From on
| Of these called 'lemon grass" an essential OF
for favoring purposes is obtained. An, extrac
from another is made the most important in
gredient Of a cooling drink, and is valued as
mild stimulant, like ginger.
POISONOUS GRASSES.
There are some very poisonous grasses in tn
world. The plants are not So but they acquir
their deadly properties from certain flung
which attack them and invade their tissue
Cattle eat them and perish. Sometimes tn
seeds get mixed with grains and poison people
One such species has recently taken root /
this country, and it may cause trouble yet
came from Europe and is known as ''lolium.
Trembling grass it it called, because
brings on a sort Of palsy.
VARIOUS KINDS OF GRASSES.
Two or three kinds Of coarse marsh grass ar
used, particularly in Holland, to keep the SO
from blowing or being washed away on tn
banks Of streams or canals. Their roots forl
a complete network beneath the surface an
hold the earth together. Sugar cane is a graz
and so is sorghum. There are about 8, 200 sp,
cies of grasses in the world, and Of this nun
Der the United States has 800 Of all sorts
marsh grasses, desert grasses, &c. There is
curious forage grass in Brazil that is like yer
much magniied oats, growing to the height {
twelve feet. From some grasses paper is mad
The only genus Of plants peculiar to the arct
is rare and beautiful grass Indigenous to Me
vile Island.
BAMBOO CULTIVATION.
It is hoped by the Department of Agricultul
that the bamboo may yet be cultivated in tn
country as it is in China, where it supplies
large part of the wants Of the people, being al
piled to more than 500 different purposes
the fiowery kingdom it takes the place both
iron and steel The farmer builds his hou
and fences out of it, his farming utensils
, well his household furniture are man,
| featured from it, while the tender shoots flu
nish him with most delicious vegetable +,
. his table.
VARIED Uses.
The roots are carved into fantastic image
, shaped into divining blocks to guess the will
3 the gods or cut into lantern handles and cane
9 The tapering culms are used for the props
! houses, the frame work Of awnings, the ribs
: sails and shafts Of rakes, for fences and eve
. sort of frames, coops and cages, and the handl
aud ribs Of umbrellas and fans. The leaves a
sewed into rain coats and matches. The sha