The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-06

From Spain il appears TO have found its way
into Italy, where it assumed the same name as
the truiile. IL was received by Cusius, at vi
emma. in ISIS ia whose time il spread rapidly
in the south of Europe, and even into Ger
many. To England it is said 10 have found its
way 10y a different route, having been brought
from Virginia by RaleIgh's cOlonists in 1856,
which would seem improbable, as IL was un-
known i'm North America at that time, either
wild or cultivated; and, besides Cough, in his
edition of Camdeu's Britannia, says it was first
planted by Sir Walter Raleigh on his estate at
Youghall. near Cork, and that it WAS cultivated
in ireland before its value was known in Eng
land. Gerard. in his " Herbal" published in
1897, gives a figure of this plant, under the
name of Batata Virgiuana, 10 distinguish it
from the sweet potato (Batata edulis), and rec
ommonds the roots TO be eaten as delicate
dish" but not as q common food.
The sweet potato" says Sir Joseph Banks,
"was used in England
As 4 DELICACY
long before the introduction of our potatoes;
it WAS imported in considerable quantities from
Spain and the Canaries and was supposed to
possess the power oil restoring decayed vigor."
Ii is related that the common potato was acct
dentaily introduced into England from Ireland
at period somewhat earlier than that noticed
by Gerard, in consequence of the wrecklng OF
n vessel on the coast of Lancashire, which had
quantity ph Abaiu III inpos ihS navy az ''V-
ciety of England took measures for encour-
aging the cultivation Of this vegetable, with
the view of preventing famine.
Notwithstanding its utility as food became
better known. no high character was attached
10 it; and the writers on gardening, toward
the end of the 18th century, hundred years
or more after its introduction, treated il
rather indiderently. They are much used in
ireland and America as bread" says one au-
thor, and may be propagated with advantage
10 poor people" The famous nurserymen,
London aud Wise, did not consider il worthy
Of notice in their Complete Gardener" pub
lished in I7l9. But its use gradually spread
as its eXcelleucies became better understood.
1t was near the middle of the last century be-
fore it was generally known either in Britain
or North America, since which it has been
most extensively cultivated.
The period of the introduction of the com
mon potato into the British North American
Colonies is not precisely known. 1t is men
toned among the products of Carolina and
Virginia in I749 aud among those growing in
New York and New England the same year.
They were much cultivated in the latter in
1850. where they produced well aud were of
good size. The varieties at that time were the
" rough coats" red coats" and the fat
whites" The red-coa were
CONSIDERED THE BEST.
In ITO are mentioned the reddish" the
blush the white" and the "French"
potatoes; the latter OF which were fattened in
their shape and of good favor.
The sweet potato Ratata edulis) is indigen-
Gus to the East Indies and inter-tropical Amer
lea. and was the potato of the old English
writers in the early part of the 14th cen
fury. 1t was doubtless introduced into Caro-
lima, Georgia, and Virginia soon after their
settlements by Europeans, being mentioned as
one Of the cultivated products OF those Colonies
as early AS the year 1913.
Rice was FIRST introduced into Virginia by
Sir William Berkeley, in 1912, who received
half bushel OF seed, from which he raised l6
bushels OF an excellent quality, most or all OF
which was s0wn the following year.
This grain is stated TO have been first brought
into Charleston, 5. C., by a Dutch hfig rom
Madagascar. in 1854, the Captain Of which lett
about peck Of paddy ,rice in the husk) with
Gov. Thomas Smith who distributed it among
bis friends for cultivation. Another account
Of It's introduction into Carolina is shat Ashby
was encouraged 10 send bag containing 100
pounds Of seed rice 10 that Province. from the
crops Of which go tons were shipped 10 Eng
land in 1898; while DalTymple maintains that
rice in Carolina IS the result Of a
SMALL BAG OF PADDY
sent as present from Dubois, Treasurer of the
" East India Company" 10 a Charleston trader.
Upland or mountain rice was introduced into
Charleston. from Canton, by John Bradley
Blake, in 1712.
Buckwheat Is believed to be native OF Cen
tTal asia, as it Is supposed 10 have been brought
10 Europe in the early part o! tho 18th cen
iury. tie time Of the Crusades for the recovery
OF syria from the dominion Of the Saraceus;
while others contend that IL was introduced
into Spain by the Moors 100 years before.
This grain appears not 10 have been much
cultivated IN this country prior To the last
fsEFf an
and the Swedes. on the Delaware. Samples Of
American growth were sent 90 Holland by the
coionists Of Manhattan Island, together with
those Of other grains, as early as 1926 Pre-
yious 10 the year 1850, il was extensively Guilt
waited by the Dutch Of New York for 81 sup
porn" and for provender for horses. Holm, in
bis History OF New swedeand Z" lPennsyl-
yania and Delaware), mentions it among the
productions Of that Province; aud Kahn, the
Swedish naturalist, who visited this country
in l74s. ~, speaks OF it as growing in Penn
sylvaaia, New Jersey aud New York.
Cotton, which administers 50 beautifully TO
the wants Of civilized as well as TO savage man,
aud 10 the wealth aud economy Of the countries
producing u, stands
FOREMOST AMONG CROPS
in the United States, both AS regards It's sUpe-
rior staple and the degree Of perfection to
which its cultivation has been brought.
OF the precise period Of the first introduc-
! tion Of the cotton plant into the North Amer
| lean Colonies history is silent. In n pamphlet
/ entitled " Nova Britannia Offering most excel.
| lent fruits by planting in Virginia" published
! in London. in 1903 il is stated that cotton
would grow as well in that Province as in
! Italy. IL Is also stated, the authority of
! Beverly, IN his History in Virginia" that Sir
| Edmund Andres while Governor OF tho Colony,
! ia 1852, gave particular marks Of his favor
| towards the propagation Of cotton, which, since
! bis time, has been much neglected" IL further
! appears that IL was cultivated for a long time
! in the eastern parts Of Maryland Virginia,
| CarOlinas and Georgia, IN the garden, though
not az all a. planters crop for domestic con-
sumption.
! The history Of the fax plant which has long
| served as the medium OF clothing myriads OF
| human beings, Of waiting ships from sea TO
| sea, Of conveying thoughts from map TO man,
from napiOn TO nation. and Of difiusing light
| aud knowledge 10 the utmost parts Of the
| earth, like many Of our products, IL involved
in lost antiquity. Early mention is made OF
/ IL ia the sacred volume, where il Is said that
" hail de,trOyeth the fax and barley" when
Moses was stTivingin vain 10 move Pharaoh Ia
allow the departure Of the Israeltcs
The Egyptian mummies are wrapped In
| linen-an undeniable proof Of the
USE or FLAX
in the rcmotest past. 1t was also known 10 the
/ Romans, as Piiny. who wrote more than SOC
/ years ago. remarks on the wonder that so great
power should be developed from 80 small O
seed as that OF fax, In producing plant which
could bc the means Of bringing Egypt so near
10 Italy. Ia sllusiGn to the fact that commerce
/ and navigation dcpeuded principully upon its