TARES, Zizadnium, Lolium; ‘tis a Plant with a longish rough Leaf, not easily distinguish’d from Corn, or other Grain, among which is grows. Its Stem is smaller than that of Wheat, and at the top of this Stem there comes forth a long Ear with little Husks, which surround it at equal Distances, and which contain three or four Grains heap’d together, and cover’d with Down or Fluff, which are not easily broke. Bread made of Corn wherein there are many Tares, is very unwholsome; it intoxicates, it loads the Stomach, and creates Heaviness, Drowsiness, and Head-achs, to those that eat it. When the Plant is grown up, and ready to blossom, it is easily distinguish’d from the Corn. Hence it is that our Saviour, in his Parable of the good Corn and the Tares, bids his Reapers to wait for the time of Harvest, when it would be easy to pluck up the Tares, to make them up into Bundles, and to cast them into the Fire. In the Church the Tares must be Matth. vi. 26,27,28. &c.mingled with the Wheat, the Wicked with the Righteous, the Reprobate with the Elect, till the Day of Judgment. Sometimes the Pastors can rake out the Hereticks, the Schismaticks, and scandalous Offenders, by Excommunication, which ought to be esteemed as a Prelude to the final Judgment of God.
The Word Tares is not used in its proper Signification, but is often used in its figurative Sense. To sow Tares in a Family is to raise Discord in it. The Enemy has sown Tares in the Field of the Church: The Hereticks have spread their Errors therein: The Devil has propagated Division among the Members.
The Ear of this Plant is a Foot long, and of a particular Form; for it is divided into several Parts, ranged alternatively, so that each appears to be a little Ear, made up of Grains that are smaller than those of Wheat, but a little mealy, of a reddish Colour. Its Blade is very different from that of Wheat, but it is chiefly distinguished when it grows up, and when it begins to blossom. In French it has obtained the Name of Ivroye, or Ivraye, as they say, because it enivre, or inebriates those that eat Bread made of it, or that drink Beer in which there is any considerable quantity of this Grain. Some Botanists think that Tares are produced from Grains of Wheat or Barley corrupted, and which have degenerated from their Nature; whence it is that there are certain Years and certain Quarters, wherein much Tares are gathered, tho’ good Corn was sowed; and, on the contrary, we are assured that Tares are sometimes changed into Wheat, when it lights upon good Ground. I have seen Persons who affirm’d, that they had made the Experiment of both these things.