CORN IN EGYPT.
Several correspondents have asked for a fuller explanation of a recent allusion to an Egyptian king who was famous as " a traveller in barley." The story is that Osiris, king or god, taught husbandry to the Egyptians and was so deeply persuaded of its value to the human race that he corn-
mitted the Government of his country to his wife Isis and travelled over the world diffusing the blessings of agriculture wherever he went," and in countries where the vine would not grow he taught the art of brewing beer from barley. It has been lately proved that barley was the chief grain food of Egypt in prehistoric days, say six thousand years ago at least. Millet is perhaps a contemporary, but wheat and oats, even perhaps spelt, are later. The historical arguments are set forth in admirable epitome in a very little book, Corn from Egypt, by Maurice Com pertz (Howe, 23 Soho Square).
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