January r, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



547 



not as yet furnished a single native plant adapted for cul- 

 tivation on a large scale. And that this arises not so much 

 from a low state of civilisation marked by defective in- 

 telligence, or by that want of peaceful security required 

 for the successful cai-ryiug on of agricultural pursuits — as 

 from UDSuitability of uatiural conditions — is shown by the 

 fact that during the century or more in which Europeans 

 have colonised these regions thty have only succeetied in 

 cultivating a single native species, the Tetragouia expansa, 

 or new Zealand Spinach. It is open to question, however, 

 whether the facts alluded to by M. de Caudolle do not 

 find another explanation in the circumstance that Europeans 

 are always more zealous to cultivate plants of known 

 utility in the old country, than to experiment with those 

 growing beneath their feet. Considering that these cul- 

 tivated plants represent ages of successive improvement 

 and inherited qualifications, it is not surprising that 

 colonists should be indifferent to native weeds as they 

 consider them; nevertheless, we believe they would do 

 well to turn their attention nmch more freely than they 

 do to the cultivation and amelioration of native plants, 

 which, as Nature herself shows, are well suited to the 

 climatal and other conditions of the country. ^V"hile the 

 grass grows, however, the steed starves; the time required 

 to develope a wild plant into one suited for agricultural 

 purposes on a hirge scale is so great, that of course it is 

 requisite, in the meantime, to cultivate plants of assured 

 value as the mainstay. 



Of the actual commencement of cultivation on a large 

 scale little or nothing is known. A Fig is represented in 

 the pyramids of Ghizeh which have an antiquity estimat(^d 

 by various writers at a period varying from 1,500 to 4,*200 

 years before the Christian era. In China, 2,700 years 

 before Christ, religious ceremonies were instituted in con- 

 nection with agricultural pursuits. But these dates, even 

 if trustworthy, evidently do not go back far enough. In 

 the period described in Genesis cultural pursuits had already 

 attained considerable proportions, but no hint is given as 

 to what was the original form. It is remarkable that in 

 the Danish mounds no trace either of agricultural pursuits 

 or of the possession of metals has yet been found. In 

 the Swiss lake dwellings, however, numerous traces have 

 been discovered, which suffice to show, not only that cul- 

 tivation was practised, but that plants had been imported 

 from the countries on the southern side of the Alps. 



The origin of cultivated plants then receiving so little 

 elucidation from history or arch;eology, BI. de Candolle 

 naturally turns to the facts of botanical geography, and 

 the inferences based on them, and here he is on surer 

 ground. Let us give an illustration of the way in which 

 the author applies bis principles. The majority of species, 

 says he, inhabits a continuous or nearly continuous area 

 [the limits of which are, of course, determined by cliraatal 

 and other considerations, which it is the business of botanical 

 geography to elucidate]. There are, however, "isolated" 

 species — especes dbjointes — that is to say, the individuals 

 composing them do not occupy one continuous area, but 

 occur in widely separated regions, with or without any 

 trace now existing of their preWous existence in the inter- 

 vening space. Consequently when a cultivated species is 

 represented in a wild state, very frequently in Europe and less 

 so in the United States, it is probable that in spite of itsap- 

 pearing to be wild in the last-named country, it has become 

 naturalised there after having been accidentally introtluced. 



"We cannot find space for other instances in which botany 

 may and does serve to elucidate the problems of the origin 

 of cultivated plants, nor,, indeed, as they will readily be 

 appreciated by thoughtful cultivators, is it requisite to do 

 so. There is no difficulty either in appreciating the value 

 of such scanty evidence as is afforded by the arclueo'ogist. 

 Historical documents are, if more numerous, less trustworthy, 

 from the vague way in which plants are mentioned, ami 

 the difficulty or impossibility of determining precisely the 

 exact application of particular names. 



China, south-west Asia (with Egypt), and tropical America, 

 are the three principal regions in which the cultivation 

 of leadiug agricultural plants originated, and from which 

 it spread. M. de Candolle devotes a short space to the 

 general consideration of the plants cultivated in eacli of 

 these regions from the earliest times, and then passes on 

 to the con.side ration of the evidence afforded by the native 

 names of plants. 



Eightly to appreciate the evidence so afltorded, the 

 reader should be a scholar profoundly versed in linguistic 

 studies. Etymologies afford such frightful pitfalls for the 

 unwary that the greatest care is required in basing an 

 inference upon them. If, however, they l>e supported by 

 other and independent evidence tht-ir value becomes great. 

 Here the absurdity and frequent uselessness of popular 

 names become vi-ry apparent. The French call Maize 

 "Turkish Wheat,'' when the plant is not a Wheat, and 

 originated in .iVmerica. Our Jerusalem Artichoke is another 

 illustration. It has nothing to do either with Jerusalem 

 or with Artichokes! Again, our word Potato is the result 

 of a confusion with the Batata, a totally different plant. 

 Still, after making allowances for the fallacies attaciiing 

 to popuhu' names, there remains a substantial body of 

 evidence of a most valuable character, but one, as we have 

 said, that demands for its interpretation a skilled linguist. 

 — Gardeners^ Chronicle 



The Sweet Potato is so very plentiful with us in the 

 coastal districts of Queensland, that like most other things 

 of which there is a large supply, its value is under-estim- 

 ated. Twenty-eight or thirty years ago this valuable root 

 used to be imported into New York by steamers from 

 Barbadoes, and being thus scarce and dear was duly prized 

 and held somewhat at its proper value. We well remember 

 seeing it in those days served up as a delicacy to be eaten 

 roasted with butter, and a very capital dish it was ; al- 

 though the sort in vogue was far inferior to either the 

 white or JIaltese variety grown here. So high was the 

 opinion entertained of this root by a friend of ours, that 

 we have heard him say one of the chief reasons he had 

 for coming to Queensland was the fact that here he could 

 obtain a plentiful supply of sweet potatoes. Nor do we 

 think he was far wrong. 'We consider that either for man 

 or beast there is scarcely a more valuable and nutritious 

 diet to be obtained, as there certainly is not a more use- 

 ful crop to be grown in any part of the world. >Ye are 

 glad to notice that the people of Sydney thoroughly ap- 

 preciate the sweet potato. We were agreeably surprised 

 to see three medium sized roots exhibited on a plate in 

 the windows of the fruiterers, just in the condition in 

 which they cjtme out of the bag, along with the usual 

 show of fine fruit. Oa enquiry we learnt that they were 

 sold 6 lb. for a shilling, and that there was a fair enquiry 

 for them at that price — Planter and Farmer. 



Pot-Layering. — The method is very simple, and any one 

 can readily increase his Strawberry beds in this manner. 

 Small pots, not over three inches across, are filled with 

 good soil and plunged in the Strawberry-bed, just under 

 the bud, at the end of a runner, so that its roots, in- 

 stead of striking in the soil of the bed, will push into 

 the soil in the pot. The pot should be set down in the 

 bed, so that its edge is not above the general surface, 

 else it may get too dry. As the wind may blow the 

 runners about, it is well to lay a small clod on them, 

 to hold them in i>lace, or a small hooked twig may be 

 used. In two or three weeks the new plant will be suffi- 

 ciently provided with roots to allow the runner that 

 connects it with the parent plant to be severed. It is 

 then to be taken to the new bed, the ball of earth con- 

 taining the roots turned out and placed in a hole made 

 to receive it. It will go on and grow without any check. 

 To prevent any injury from drouth, it will be well to 

 mulch the plants with a little hay or straw as they are 

 ftet out. The sooner the new plants can be transferred 

 to their new bed the better ; if it can be done in August, 

 a full ei-op may be expected next year. Suitable pots 

 cost very little at the potteries ; those who live at a dis- 

 tance from these can contrive some substitute. A wooden, 

 tin, or other receptacle may be contrived to hold the soil. 

 We have great confidence in the ingenuity of our people 

 to supply sometliing in the place of pots ; for did not a 

 lady some years ago write us that, beiug unable to get 

 small pots for her tomato plants, she used the shells of 

 ducks' <'i,'i;s! Probably a mere coil of tin, birch-bark, or 

 even pasteboard, if carefully handlnd. would serve the 

 purpose, which is to keep the roots from disturbance 

 until they can be taken to their new place. — American 

 Agriculturist. 



