The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-04-10
Origin of Our Cultivated Plants.

! Origin of Our Cultivated Plants.
j. That all our cultivated plants original
~ grew wild, from the nature of thu
ease admits Of no question. But jus
where some of them originated, Or even
how they appeared in their wild state
is 4 question as puzzling as it is inter
esting. AS some of them seem tt
have been thoroughly domcsticated a
a time long before even the earliest dawl
of human history there is no means OF
tracing them back to the time and place
Of their original discovery and cultiva
tion. In some instances this long pcriot
of cultivation has resulted in such q
complete change III the nature of the
plants that their wild progentors, if they
still exist. have not yet been recognized
or identified. In other cases it is gen
orally believed that the original plant
in it's natural state has become extinct
Such is the case with maize Qndian
CORN and wheat; though there are those
who believe that genuine wild wheat
Is still to be found. but without being
| able to agree as to where.
Humboldt, III his treatise on the Geog'
| raDhy of Plants, says: I'VE do not
know what region produced spontaneous.
| ~, wheat, barley, oats or rye. The plants
which constitute the natural riches OF
all the inhabitants of the tropics, the
maize, have never been found in wild
state. The potato presents the same
phenomenon" The noted Swiss bot
anist, De Candolle. has catalogued 247
Of the most useful cultivated plants,
tracing each to its origin where it has
been possible to Go so. OF these the old
world is credited with 1919 species, Amer
cred uncertain. Several, like the hop,
the currant, the strawberry and some
others, were common to both hemisphcres,
but arc classed as belonging to the old
world since they were first cultivated
there
The United States.' says Eurooean
author. lin spite of their vast territory,
have only added to the nutritious plants
worth cultivating the Jerusalem arti-
choke and the gourds." But it is adj
1mitted that the region is wonderfully
adapted to the "tranSpla nting" and bring
ing to 4 higher state Of perfection many
of the best things of the old world, both
OF the vegetable and animal Kingdoms
including even man.
The following are among the most i'm
portant cultivated plants which origin
ated in the old world, and which have
been in general use from very early
times:
Apples found wild over extensive
regions of the north temperate zone.
First cultivated in South Eastern Eu-
rope Or Western Asia.
Rarley--Among the most ancient of
cultivated plants. 1t is native of
Western Asia.
Beets-Originate around the shores
of the Mediterranean, where they are
still TO be found in abundance in the
wild state. They were originally cult
waited for their leaves, the heshy root
having developed as a result of cultiva-
ton.
Cabbage-Still found wild in many
parts of Europe, where it has been cult
waited from the earliest times.
Cotton-The species now most gener-
ally and extensively cultivated origin
ated in Southern Asia. probably in In
dia. Tree cotton is q native of tropical
Africa. Sea island cotton is native to
America, and one or more other species
were found under cultivation by the ma
tives around the Caribbean sea and the
Gulf of Mexico at the time of the discov-
cry of the continent.
Oats-A leading authority says: "As
all the varieties of oats are cultivated,
and none have been discovered in a
truly wild state. it is very probable that
they are all derived from a single pre-
historic FORM which is traced to East
been found among the remains of the
Swiss lakedwellings of the age of
bronze.
Onions-Iirst cultivated in South
western Asia, where the originals of the
cultivated species are still to be found.
Onions were worshiped as sacred in
Egypt in very early times.
in assigning the origin of this luscious
fruit to China: though other eminent
botanists believe it to have been cult
waited in Persia and elsewhere at ali
equally early date.
Rice-First cultivated in Southern
China or India. Not native in Egypt
tho'~h it has through the greater part
of historic time been extensively cult
waited there.
Rye-Anpears to have been first cult
waited in Eastern Europe. The discoy-
cry Of the original wild plant has been
several times claimed, but is doubted by
the best authorities.
Tea-Chinese records are quoted to
prove that tea was cultivated in that
country at least 200 B. G. and it is
generally conceded that it's use originated
i'll that region.
termelons-Formerly supposed to
have been natives of Southern Italy. hut
later Investigations have traced their
origin to Africa. where they are still
found wild in the tropical regions on
both sides of the equator.
Whcat-The extreme antiquity and
wide area of the cultivation of wheat
have rendered it difficult to ascertain
just where it originated. 1t was we'll
known in the earliest times of which
any records are to be found all through
the temperate regions of Asia, Europe
and Africa. 1t has been discovered in
the bricks of the pyramid of Dashur,
Egypt built more than 1850 B. G. The
latest researches assign its origin to
the region of the Euphrates, where it
still exists wild-if anywhere.
useful plants that the new world has
had the honor of furnishing may be men,
toned:
Maize-At the time of the discovery
of the new continent maize was one of
the staples of it's meager agriculture
from the La Plata valley to the region of
the present United States, with every
indication of having been cultivated from
great antiquity. Although diligent
found in truly wild state, but is
thought to have originated south of the
isthmus.
Potato-Like maize, the potato was
found under cultivation at the time of
the discovery of America. 1t is still
found wild along the west coast of South
America, south of the equator.
cultivated by the natives in the region
of Northern Mexico or Southern United
States.
Squasll--A native of North America;
probably first cultivated within the
limits of the United States.
Sweet Potato-Among the cultivated
products Of the new world exhibited by
Columbus upon his return from his first
voyage. Nowhere found wild.
Tomato-Native of tropical South
America. probably Peru. Cultivated in
that region at the time of the discovery
j. J. Simpson in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
Pretty Home Experiment.
Get piece of cardboard, say Sx12
inches in size, and bend it gently in the
middle. In one of the wings thus
formed cut four-pointed star. with two
of the points vertical and two horizontal.
1 g