Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-18

came from the room where the lomi-ing was
going on indicated that the process was toler-
ably rough one. @. g. n.
PLANTS OF ALL THE WORLD.
How Vegetable Gifss Of Nature Have Been
DiHnsed Over the Earth.
''The distribution Of vegetable products over
the earth affords very interesting study" said
Q scientist to . STAa reporter. Agriculture
came originally, % far as the principal species
Of use to man are concerned, from three great
regions China, southwest Asia with Egypt and
tropical America. In these regions the
great civilizations based upon agriculture be-
gan. Ancient misrations and conquests brought
about the carrying Of different kinds of plants
from one part Of the world 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 it
grew wild, throughout distant countries, the
people OF which found it available for cultiva-
ton. Seafaring tribes, too, conveyed such
native productions Of their own to distant
portions of the world. In all these ways the
plants which nature had placed upon the earth
In scattered patches were spread and made
useful to the entire human race. The dis
covery of America was the last great event
which completed the diffusion Of cultivated
growths.
TT is most curious to consider from what
sources the fruits and vegetables most familiar
70 us, nearly all Of them exotics. were origi-
nally obtained. Oranges first grew in 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 pre-historis
peoples of both Europe and Asia.
The records Of wine making in Egypt 60 back
5000 years. Our common strawberry is one of
the most widely diffused 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 a wild state, far north as the
cold will permit. Where it started no one can
precisely tell, but it is certain that its cultiva-
ton was not introduced until about four CEN
turtles ago.
1.-THE common plum existed first in northern
Persia and the region of the Caucasus. April
cots came from Armenia and the Greeks and
Romans began to grow them at about the begin
ming OF the Christian era. The almond tree L.
a native OF western Asia. Peaches came from
China originally and pears belonged at the be-
ginning In the temperate belt Of Europe. The
earliest apples grew in the neighborhood Of the
ounces. 1t is contended by some authors that
the apple disputed for by Juno, Venus and
Minerva was in reality ounce.
"Ihe watermelon, Of which the colored peo-
pie are reputed so fond, was cultivated by the
ancient Egyptians in the time of the building
OF the Pyramids. It is found represented in
many Of the paintings which they left behind.
Likewise there is reason for believing it was
known to the lsraelites of old. There il no
doubt that it originated in the north of Africa.
The cucumber belonged to the northwest of
India. Olives were first brought from the
south coast of Asia Minor Mythology at
trlbuted to Minerva the planting of the fruit in
Greece, which probably signifies the introduc-
ton OF cultivated varieties and of processes for
extracting the oil. The traditions of ancient
peoples, embellished by poets, have commonly
attributed the first steps in agriculture and the
INTRODUCTION OF useful plants to some divinity.
PEPPERS AND OTHER THINGS.
'Red peppers are Of American origin. The
fig is native to the southern Mediterranean
indigenous to the region between the Euphra-
ties and the Nile. The people of Baby
Ion and Of Egypt cultivated them most
ence in the sSath of Asia, and not in
the tropical parts of this continent. Probably
the species was early introduced to the Ameri-
cas- by the Spanish and Portuguese. The pine
apple is an American plant and was suitably
exchanged for the gift Of the banana by intro
ducing it to Asia and Africa.
"Radishes were cultivated in gardens from
the earliest historic times throughout the tenn
perate region of Asia and Europe SO that it is
impossible to tell where they started. Turnips
are European. Satisfy was first foun.. in Greece
and Italy. The potato is one of America 8 most
importan. contributions to the worlds
stock Of vegetables. Spanish voyagers con-
veyed it abroad first, though the credit for its
to the old world was for long
time given to Sir Walter Raleigh. Chilli was
the birthplace of the tuber. 1t is commonly
imagined, though incorrectly, that the sweet
potato belongs to the same family as the
potato. Probably the sweet potato originated
in America, though some authorities con-
tend that it first grew in Asia. Beets belonged
In southern Europe and southwest Asia. Garlic
is Mongolian. The origin of the onion is dis
puted, though it probably was derived from
southwest Asia. By the Egyptians of old it was
largely eaten. and one variety cultivated in
divine honors were bestowed upon it.
CARRIAGES FROM EUROPE.
''The cabbage was European. In its wild
state it was found on the rocks by the seashore
The date Of its cul tivation is very ancient.
Garden cress came from Persia. likewise spin
ach. The tea plant came first from China, and
its existence is accounted for by legend to
the effect that q priest, having succumbed to
sleep when he had wished to watch and pray,
in anger cut off his eyelids. which were changed
into the shrub whose leaves are calculated to
prevent sleep. Sugar cane was first grown in
southern Asia, whence it spread into Africa
and later to America. Tobacco. of course, is
native to this continent At the time Of the
Of snuff taking and of chewing tobacco was
diffused over the greater part of the new
world. Pipes in great numbers and of won
derful workmanship have been discovered in
the ancient tombs of the Aztecs and the Mound
Builders