The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-12-06
BIRTHPLACES OF FOODS.
THE NATIVE LANDS OF THE vARI-
GUS GRAINS AND FRUITS.

HE grains and fruits used ] |
food by man originated l |
different latitudes, and first |
& existed in wild state some
being indigenous to the tropics and
some to temperate zones. As they be-
came improved and differentiated they
we're distributed in different countries
according to their utility and the
spread of agriculture. 1t was but nat
ural that the first gradual changes
from wild to cultivated state
! should have taken place in general in
warm countries where the climate
and the advanced state of civilization
conspired to effect amelioration. For
instance, the grape is Indigenous to
| America, and had existed here in
wild state long ages before the conti
nent was discoved by Columbus, but
it was first put to practical use in
Egypt and Central Asia, TO which To-
calities its origin is sometimes attrib-
uted, and whence it was in reality
distributed throughout the Western
world. A similar remark may be made
of rye, one of the less valued cereals,
which is native of the temperate
zones, and spread thence toward the
South. 1t is supposed to have been
unknown in India, Egypt and ancient
Palestine, and, though it was more or
less used by the ancient Greeks and
Romans, it was from the north of
Europe that they received it.
Nearly all the grains now in use are
of unknown antiquity. Wheat was
cultivated in eighty-six latitude as far
back in the past as we have authentic
kno Wedge. Barley is thought to have
originated in the Caucasus, but it was
known and used everywhere in the
most ancient times. Oats, like rye,
was unknown in ancient India and
Egypt and among the Hebrews The
Greeks and Romans received it from
the north of Europe. Had there been
an early civilization on this continent
the wild oats found here and there
would probably have developed into
the useful cereal now considered abso.
lutely essential for the proper nourish'
ment of horses. This continent il
credited with having given Indian corn
to the old world, but this useful cereal
was doubtless known in India and
China many hundred years before the
discovery of America. Cotton was
used for making garments in India al
date so remote that it cannot even be
guessed at. The fact is mentioned by
Aristotle. The first seeds were brought
to this country in 1921. In 1866 the cul
ture is mentioned in the records of
South Carolina. In 1876 the culture
was general along the eastern coast OF
Maryland, and in 1776 we hear of il
as far north as Cape May. The use OF
fax for making clothing is nearly as
ancient as that of cotton, and perhaps
more SO, plants of soft and flexible
fiber having been without doubt among
the first vegetable productions of the
ancient world and their practical value
discovered soon after the invention o.
weaving.
The cherry in its improved condi.
tion is of Persian descent and is an
other fruit that might have been i'm,
proved from our wild varieties had oul
civilization been contemporary with
that which preceded Egypt and Baby.
lon in the valleys of the Tigris ant
Euphrates. Peaches, plums and cher,
ries were all known to the ancient
Greeks and Romans.
The apple, the most useful and salts
factory of all the fruits of the temper
ate zones, has been known from tim,
immemorial. 1t originated from some
of the hardy wild species that are founc
sometimes almost as far north as the
Arctic .rcle. 1t is fruit that like
the cold, and is found in the greatest
perfection in parts of New England,
New York and Michigan, where the
winters are severe. AS it approaches
the equator it loses its finest of taste
while still preserving its beauty. Il
is n notable fact that, owing to care il
the culture, and in part to preference
for the climate, all the fruits mentioned
in this list are found of better quality
in Europe and America than in the 10.
calities where they are thought to have
originated. The oranges of India,
Burmah and Cochin China are abso
lutely tasteless and those of Malaga
scarcely better. The best grown il
Spain come from the region of Valen.
cia, where they have been introduced
at a comparatively recent date. So o.
the cherries, npricots and peaches.
which have attained perfection il
Europe and America of which the an.
cient Persians never dreamed. Al
these fruits appear to increase in size
and improve in flavor in latitudei
where the winter is sufficiently severe
to check the growth of the tree and
give it needed rest.
1t could not be expected, for the
reasons alleged, that America, in.
habited until IA recent date by savage
tribes only, should furnish to the
world products that require thousands
of years of care and culture to give
them their perfect development. The
potato, however, is an invaluable boon
conferred by the new world on the
old. The tomato is also Of South
American origin, and, though it plays
n much less important part III alimen.
tation, it is an article of food that
Americans would not willingly part
with As TO the fruits in common use,
though America has done much to i'm,
prove them, there is not one of then
Of which il can reasonably claim To be
the place of origin. San Francisco