Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-12-01
BIRTHPLACES OF FOODS.
THE NATIVE LANDS OF THE vARI-
GUS GRAINS AND FRUITS.
Most of Them Have Evolved From a
wild State-The True Home or
indian COrn-The Cherry's Origin.

food by man originated : l
different ATTITUDES, 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
were 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 a
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 attrlb-
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 owledge. 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 is
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 nj
n 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 1916 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
flax for making clothing is nearly as
ancient as that of cotton, and perhap,
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 Of
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 will
that which preceded Egypt and Baby
Ion III 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 tim,
immemorial. 1t originated from some
of the hardy wild species that are founC
sometimes almost as far north as tn,
Arctic rcle. 1t is fruit that like,
the cold, and is found in the greatest
perfection i'll parts of New England
New York and Michigan, where the
winters are severe. As it approache,
the equator it loses its finest of taste
while still preserving its beauty. /
is notable fact that, owing to care il
the culture, and in part to II preferenc,
for the climate, all the fruits mentioned
in this list are found of better quality
in Europe and America than III the To-
calities whore 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 Nalen
cia, where they have been introduced
at comparatively recent date. So o
the cherries, aprleots and peaches
which have attained perfection il
Europe and America of which the an
ciant Persians never dreamed Al
these fruits appear 10 increase in siz,
aud improve IN fla, ia latitude'
where the winter Is sufficiently sever,
Ia check the growth of tho tree ant
give u "a needed rest.
II could not ho expected, for th,
rpaaons alleged, that Ameriea, ia
habitcd until recent date hy savage
tribes only, should furnish to th,
world products that require ihousaud'
of years at care aud cultarr to give
them their perfect development. Tn,
potato, however Is an invaluable boon
conferred hY tho neN world un ths
uld Tho tomato A. Wlep 81 Noutli
American origin, and, ihnugh Il plays
mach iess important puFi in allmen
,atian, Il lH an article ~ foni that
American nauli Hat willingly IAfi
with 4 o. lhu irnits ln common Hse.
though America has doue much a. m
prsar them, tasru T. nut unr IT ihsn
nf which a casa reasonably pl8im tn hf
the place ~ origin San ttaneise,
lhfaHielf