The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-07-26

ity as TO the origin OF lnc NeeetdDles |
which we know best In this country. |
writes the Washington correspondent |
of the New York Evening Post. Every
one knows. of course that potatoes
are the mainstay of the Irish and rice
of the Chinese If there is failure
of the wheat crop. there Is famine in
India and the sympathy of the whole
civilized world is drawn upon to sup
ply the wherewthal to tide over the
years deficiency. England must main
tain great navy to prevent its being
isolated from its bases of food supply
in case of war, MS much as for the
protection of its colonies.
Taking lesson from these patent
facts, This country, in spite of the
unusually wide range of its products
and its practical immunity from harm
on this score even under stress of war,
has undertaken, through a bureau OF
the Department of Agriculture, 90
search the whole world for every sort
of growing thing which has possibili-
ties as q food product. Having found
such plant, II has been imported here
for deyeiopment in the Governments
laboratories and subsequent distribu-
ton 70 such Government experiment
stations or private growers as could
develop it more scientifically for the
climate to which it is best suited.
Many persons consider Ireland the
home of the potato. which has become
such a necessary part of the average
Americans diet. The plant came to
this country from the highlands of Co
lombia and Peru, n section of the world
which has furnished "A number of the
best known ana most widely cultivated
vegetables of the present time The to-
mato was introduced from Peru back
in Civil War days. when ignorant peo-
ple had an idea that it was a poisonous
plant. Agricultural statistics of the
past year show that superstitious fear
of the tomato has disappeared sufi-
GENTLY to encourage the growing of
this popular food Oh 100000 acres. The
lima bean is another vegetable of popu-
lar consumption which came from the
same South American country, having
been introduced here about eighty-five
years ago. Certain sections of the
country have come to grow lima beans
| in such profusion that farmers have
! been able to obtain special railroad
rates for sending their crop TO city
markets. Thousands upon thousands
! of dollars invested in the orange groves
| of California and Florida obtained that
opportunity for investment in conse-
| Quence of the introduction of orange
| cuttings from Brazil. England is Civ
| en- credit for having provided this
country with asparagus, while celery
came originally from Southern Europe
and rhubarb from Central Asia.
Still unsatlsfed with all that other
countries have given us in the way OF
food supply the aggressive agricul-
tural scientist of to-day las been tour
ing the world and exploring It's far
away corners and unlnhabited desert
and forest nooks for what may turn
out to be only slip Of a plant or a
sample of an undeveloped fruit. Each
however, brings to the explorer the
germ of an idea ny which he hopes to
develop the new plant, through Govern
ment aid, into staple of both food
value and financial profit.
Descriptions have been given in the
Evening Posts correspondence of the
last six months of some of the note
worthy novelties brought to this coun
try in this way, including durum ol
macaroni wheat; chayote, the new del
icacy OF the egg plant variety; tine cac
tus cheese, which is so nearly like th'
ordinary cake chocolate as TO be read
lily mistaken, except for its slight.
tart flavor; new varieties of tangerine;
and other specimens of the orange fam
lily, and of grazing plants which vii
grow in the semi-arid parts of tin
West where there are less than sil
inches of rainfall. In each OF these in
stances there has been an accomplish
ment worthy of note, but the list ha
not vet been exhausted. Other plant
and fruits are being developed alonI
the same lines, and descriptions. o
some of them will be available befor
long for the information OF the public
Al lHS pItSthb HOihChA ~ - poSnipiS u
give some brief facts about several ex
perlments which have progressed ia
enough to indicate a gratifying success
in as great measure, probably, as thos
Just mentioned.
Salads have come 10 be part of tn
principal daily meal for most person
who live reasonably well, because o
the many kinds which can be prepares
at small cost and which add so muc
to the enjoyment of the repast. Blu
there Is continual longing for ney
kinds of salad, and chefs IRE puzzlin
their brains to arrang" nov combina
tlons. To meet the Gemanl has bee
one of the tasks which the agriculture
explorer has set for himself. and a
ready he has succeeded TO degree /
Japan lie has found vegetable, calle
by the japanese udo, which is as con
mon there as celery Is here. 1t Is S
enjoyed by the japanese that they in
port the canned article 30 this countr
rather tn.u do without their accu'
toned food. 1t cannot take the piac
. OF lettuce for variety Of uses, but ma
I lie adapted to II palatable dish by til
: addition of certain sauces. 1t has nc
: vet been given a distinctive America
name, but 1t grows IN thick blanche
shoots of two feet or more In lengtl
. and prospers splendidly BY slicin