The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-24
PLANTS or an rnr wonlD.
How Generous Nature Has DiFused Her Veg
efabie Gifts Over the Earth.


over the earth affords very interesting
study" said a scientist TO Washington Star
reporter. Agriculture came originally. 80
far as the principal species Of use to man are
concerned, from three great regions China:
America. IN these regions the great clyiiiza-
tons based upon agriculture began An
cient Inigrations and conguests brought
about the carrying Of different KINDS
Of plants from one part OF the worid
TO another and they were exchanged also IN q
friendly way among nations. so that each
valuable vegetable became distributed from
its original source, where 1t grew wild,
throughout distant countries. the people OK
which found it available for cultivation. Sea-
faring tribes too. conveyed such native pro-
auctions of their own 10 distant portions OF
the world. In all these ways the plants when
nature had placed upon the earth III scattered
patches were spread and made useful 70 the
entire human race. The discovery OF America
was the last great event which completed the
diffusion Of cultivated growths.
1T is most curious 20 consider from what
sources the fruits and vegetables most familiar
To us, nearly all of them exotics. were or
iginally obtained. Oranges first grew III
Southern China and in Cochin-China. The
lemon is Indigenous to India. Grapes were
cultivated IN very ancient times in fact. the
fruit Of the vine was used by the prehistoric
peoples of Europe and Asia. The records of
wine-making in Egypt 90 back G,0O0 years.
Our common strawberry IS one OF the most
widely d.ffused plants, partly owing to the
small size of its seeds which birds
carry to great distances. 1t is found
all around the Arctic circle in Wild
state rs far north rs the cold will
permit Where il started no one can pre-
cisely tell. but it is certain that its cultivation
was not introduced until about four centuries
ago., 60. - Nor.,,
ern Persia and the region of Caucasus April
cots came from Armenia. and the Greeks and
Romans began TO grow them at the beginning
of the Christian era. The almond tree IS u
native Of Western Asia. Peaches came from
China originally, and pears belonged at the
beginning in the temperate belt of Europe.
The earliest apples grew IN the nelgnD0rhood
of the Caspian Sea. and the same may be SAID
of ounces 1t is contended by some authors
that the apple disputed for by Juno. Venus
and Minerva was in reality "A ounce.
The watermelon. of which the colored
people are reputed so fond, was cultivated by
the ancient Egyptians in the time of the build
ing of the Pyramids. 1t is found represented
in many of the paintings which they lett be-
hind. Likewise there Is reason TO believe 1T
was known to the Israetes of old. There IS
no doubt that 1t originated In the north OF
Africa. The cucumber belonged to the north
the south coast of Asia Minor. Mythology
attributed TO Minerva the planting of the fruit
in Greece, which probably signifies the intro
duction of cultivated varieties and of pro-
cesses for extracting the oil The traditions
of ancient peoples. embellished by poets, have
commonly attributed the first steps IN agri-
culture and the introduction of useful plants
TO some divinity.
RED peppers are of American origin. The
fig is q native TO the southern Mediterranean
basin from Assyria 10 the Canarles Dates
are indigenous TO the region between the
Euphrates and the Nile. The people of Baby
lon and of Egypt cultivated them most an
GENTLY. Bananas had their first existence IN
the south of Asia and not in the tropical parts
of this continent. Probably the species was
early introduced TO the Americans by the
Spanish and Portuguese. The pineapple Is an
American plant, and was suitably exchanged
for the gift of the banana by introducing 1t TO
Asia and Africa.
"Radshes were cultivated in gardens from
the earliest historic times throughout the tenn
perate region Of Asia and Europe. SO that It IS
impossible 20 tell where they started. 1ur
nips are European Satisfy was FIRST found IN
Greece and Italy. The potato IS one Of Amer
ica's most important contributions to the
worlds stock of vegetables. Spanish voyagers
conveyed it abroad first. though the the credit
for its introduction 10 the Old World was for
a long time given TO Sir Walter Raleigh. Chill
was the birthplace Of the tuber. tits commonly
imagined, though incorrectly. that the sweet
potato belongs to the same family rs the
potato. Probably The sweet potato orgina-
ted in America. though some authorities con-
tend that it first grew IN ASA. Beets be-
longed in Southern Europe aud Southwest
Asia. Carrie is Monaghan. The origin OF
the onion IS disputed. though it was prOba-
blv derived from Southwest ASIA BY tho
Egyptians Of old it was largely eaten, and one
variety cultivated in their country was 80
highly esteemed that divine hOnors were be
slowed upon it.
THE cabbage was European. In It's wild
state il was found on the rocks by the sea-
shore. The date Of its cultivation Is very an
cient. Garden cress came from Persia. ike
wise spinach. The tea plant came first from
China and its existence IS accounted for by
legend TO the effect that priest, hav-
ing succumbed 10 sleep when he mad
wished 10 watch and pray. in anger
cut of his eyelids. which were changed
into the shrub whose leaves are calcu-
lated to prevent sleep Sugar cane was first
grown in Southern Asia, whence it spread into
Africa and later 20 America. Tobacco, OF
course. is native 10 this continent AT the
time of the discovery of America the custom
of smoking, Of snuff taking and OF chewing
tobacco was difIused over the greater part OF
the New World. Pipes in great numbers and
Of wonderful workmanship have been discov-
cred in the ancient tombs of the AZtecs and
the mound builders. Cincinnati CONNER
oal-Gazette.