The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-13
ORIGIN OF GRAIN AND FRUITS.
Many Kinds Have Been Known from Inn
memorial Times.

memorial Times.
The grains and fruits used as food by
man originated in different latitudes,
and first existed in wild state. some
being indigenous to the tropics and
some to the temperate zone. As they
became improved and differentiated
they were distributed in different
countries according to their utility and
the spread Of agriculture. 1t was but
natural 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 con-
spired to effect their amelioration.
For instance, the grape is Indigenous
to America and had existed here in
a wild state long ages before the con-
tinent was discovered by Column
bus, but it was first put to practical
use in Egypt and Central Asia,
to which localities its origin is some
times attributed, and whence it was in
reality distributed throughout the
western world. A similar remark may
be made of rye, one of the most valued
cereals, which is a native of the tenn
perate 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 Eu
rope that they received it.
Nearly all the grains now in use are
of unknown antiquity. Wheat was
cultivated in all latitudes as far back
in the past as we have authentic knowl-
edge. Barley is thought to have origi-
mated 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 use
full cereal now considered absolutely
essential to the proper nourishment of
horses. This continent is credited
with having given Indian corn to the
old world, but this useful cereal was
doubtless known in India and China
many years before the discovery of
America. Cotton was used for making
garments in India at date so remote
that it can not even be guessed at. The
fact is mentioned by Aristotle. The
first seeds were brought to this country
in 1921. In 1860 the culture is men,
toned in the records of South Carolina.
In 1876 the culture was general along
the eastern coast of Maryland, and in
1776 we heard of it as far north as Cape
May. The use of fax for making cloth
ing is nearly as ancient as that of cot
ton, and perhaps more so, plants of
soft and flexible fiber having been
without doubt among the first vegeta-
BILE productions of the ancient world
and their practical value discovered
soon after the invention of weaving.
The orange is thought by some to
have been first known in Burmah,
whence it was disseminated through
out the far east, in which connection it
is curious to note that the Greeks and
Romans, to whom this fruit was un-
known, placed the islands of the Hes
perides, where grew the golden apples,
in the far west. The introduction of
the orange into Spain is said to be due
to the Moors, who cultivated it in An
dalusia. The peach is accredited to
Persia. The name itself is said to be
corruption of the Latin word for
Persian" the word 'malum" fruit
being understood. The origin of the
word pear is uncertain, but it is sup
posed to have been improved, like the
apple, from some wild shrub, specimens
of which are occasionally found in the
west of France. The plum had a SINH
lar origin. Were our civilization as old
as that of Asia and Africa the wild
plum found in numerous localities on
this continent would, after thousands
of years of culture, have developed
into numberless varieties. The apricot
comes from Persia. The nectarine,
which partakes of the nature Of the
plum and the peach. is of com parative-
" recent origin, and came first, with
out doubt, from union of the two.
The cherry, in its improved condi-
ton, is of Persian descent, and is an
other fruit that might have been i'm
proved from our wild varieties had our
civilization been contemporary with
that which preceded Egypt and Baby
Ion in the valleys of the Tigris and
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 time
immemorial. 1t originated from some
of the hardy species that are found
sometimes almost as far north as the
Arctic circle. 1t is fruit that likes
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 it's fine
ness of taste, while stille preserving its
beauty. The following tribute to
American apples is from the British
Encyclopedia: The most esteemed of
all American apples is the Newtown
Pippin. a globular, juicy. generous,
highly aromatic fruit. Other Ameri-
can varieties of note are Williams
Family AStraIxhap (IrayeStein and