Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-28

Uncle Jerry's" Picture Book-PIants Doc
tined Some Day 60 Re sefuI

"Uncie Jerry's' Picture Book-PIant. Doc
tined Some Day 60 Re Useful.
ss TNCLE JERRY RUSK HAS JUST
- published . very interesting picture
book. IL is called an agricultural album"
and the plates in il are designed Go show the
comparative values per acre of the various
grains grown in the United States as well a.
OF certain other staple crops. One might 10
surprised to learn that an average acre OF corn
was worth four times as much in one state as
IN another. and that with other products there
was nearly as great u variation according TO
locality; but is explained that these differences
arise not so much from the varying quality OF
soils as from the fact that in some parts OF tho
country farmers get much more out Of their
land than in others. In New England. for ex-
ample, although the soil is for the most part
comparatively poor. careful manuring and
other methods of what is called 'inte nsi,e"
farming bring forth crops many times ne great
as are raised on corresponding areas of the
rich lands OF the west, which the agriculturists
merely tickle with the hoe. Ii is estimated
'hat the number OF acres now yearly sown with
cereals would support population Of one hun
ured million OF people n they armed for
all they are worth
Prof. Geo. GoodRle. in a recent article on the
future OF botany, expresses the opinion that
eventually vast number of plants not now
employed Tor any good purpose will be utilized
by mankind. tie calls attention 10 the fact
that about 10000 species of fiowering plants
exist IN the world, and of these all but about
5000 are known. Yet list including all the
forage plants, those grown for timber and
cabinet woods, those for fibre and cordaca,
for tanning materials. dyes, resins rubber
cork, gums, oils. perfumes and medicines
would barely number all together three hun
dred cultivated species Many may be added
which are utilized in a wild state and not cul-
tvated, but even thus the total does not reach
L per cent of the whole. In other words
not one plant in over one hundred lie Of
value.
From the beginning Of civilization man has
explored the earth for plants 10 serve him for
various purposes, chiefly for food and medi-
clnes. From age to age the stock of vegetable
treasures has been slowly and cautiously added
10. 80 1t Will continue IN the future. and
there Is every reason 10 believe that the time
VIII come when vegetables. fruits and cereals
now unknown will figure upon the bill-of-fare
when new hbres Will supplement or replace
those which now are woven or spun. and when
new remedial agents from the field and the
forest will find "a place in the dispensatory
lake the case of the cereals for example
There are hundreds of seed-bearlng grasses i'm
the world; yet only SIX of them have ever
obtained employment in this country as foods
namely, corn, wheat, rice, barley. oats and rye.
Wheat and barley have been cultivated for four
thousand years. Corn Is of American origin
suppose that all the aforementioned cereals
were wiped entirely out of existence by Q
blight. What would happen? Why, the human
race would begin at once TO investigate the
possibilities OF other grasses. Prof
estimates that acceptable new cereals could be
provided by merely improving aud develop
ing the wild stocks within half century.
Why would II not be well worth while to in
yestigate the possibilities of these little-known
grasses now? Even though they may NOT be
absolutlyely needed, they might supply CRATE
fui additions TO the food OF mankind. For
instance, experiments might be made with the
wild rice OF the lakes. There are two sea-
shore grasses which have excellent grains,
though of small yield, but the latter could
be improved. The wheat and barley of today
are much larger and finer grains than the
wheat and barley which have been found in
ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and in the buried
cities of Greece.
Parsnips, the oyster plant. parsley. the arti-
Choke and spinach all of comparatively
recent discovery. The tomato was nos
sold In northern markets until 1879
and FOR long time after that 10
was deemed poisonous in New England No
one who sees the wild cabbage on the sea coast
OF Europe will imagine that vegetable could be
made OF II by cultivation. Similarly there are
plants everywhere which are susceptible Of
development into usefulness. Unfortunately,
people are always reluctant to adopt a new
edible, and SO 1t comes about that this branch
OF discovery Is OF slow growth