Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-03-30
Origin Of Our Cultivated Plants.


Origin o f Our Cultivated Plants.
That all our cultivated plants original
~ grew wild, from the nature of the
case admits of no question. But just
where some of them originated, or even
how they appeared in their wild state,
is a question as puzzling as it is inter-
esting. AS some of them seem to
have been thoroughly domesticated at
time long before even the earliest dawn
of human history there is no means OF
tracing them back to the time and place
of their original discovery and cultlya-
ton. In some instances this long period
of cultivation has resulted i'll such a
complete change in the nature of the
plants that their wild progenitors, II they
still exist, have not yet been recognized
or identified. In other cases it is gen
orally believed that the original plant
in its 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, in his treatise on the Geog-
raDhy of Plants, says ''We 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
banana, the pawpaW, the manloc and
maize, have never been found in a wild
state. The potato presents the same
phenomenon The noted Swiss bot
anist, De Candolle, has catalogued 241
of the most useful cultivated plants,
tracing each to its origin where it has
been possible to do So Of these the old
lea with IS, and three are still consid-
cred uncertain. Several, like the hop,
the currant, the strawberry and some
others, were common to both hemiSpheres,
but are classed as belonging to the old
world since they were first cultivated
there.
1.-THE United States says European
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 ad-
nlltted that the region is wonderfully
adapted to the ''transDlanting' and bring
ing to a 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--Still found wild over extensive
regions of the north temperate zone.
First cultivated in South Eastern Eu-
rope or Western Asia.
Barley-Among the most ancient of
cultivated plants. 1t is a native of
Western Asia.
Beets-Originated 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 1eshy root
having developed as 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 a 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
ern Europe and Tartary. Oats have
been found among the remains of the
Swiss lake-dwellings of the age of
bronze.
Onions First 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.
Peach-De Candolle has no hesitancy
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 an
equally early date.
n
China or India. Not native in Egypt,
THOUGH it has through the greater part
of historic time been extensively culti-
waited there.
Rye-Appears to have beer. first cult
waited in Eastern Europe. The discov-
|sery 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 2700 B. G. and it is
generally conceded that its use originated
in that region.
Watermelons-F Formerly supposed to
later Investigations have traced their
origin TO Africa where they are still
found wild in the tropical regions on
both sides of the equator.
Wheat-The extreme antiquity and
wide area of the cultivation of wheat
nave rendered II ulll1culC 10 ascertain
Just where it originated. 1t was well
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 it's origin to
the region Of the Euphrates, where it
still exists wild-if anywhere.
Among the extensively cultivated and
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
search has been made. it has never been
found in truly wild state, but is
thought to have originated south of the
isthmus
Potato-Like maize, the potato was