THE ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS 



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from European ones; spinach and peas from Asiatic ancestors. 

 In more recent times this region has contributed horseradish, 

 PARSNIPS and parsley. 



Fig. 86. — A list of the cultivated plants originating in the Mediterranean region. 



The Mediterranean region has been equally generous in its 

 contribution of cultivated fruits to our menu. Almost a dozen 

 species have been subject to cultivation for at least four thousand 

 years. European species include grapes, figs, almonds, pears, 

 APPLES and olives; figs, dates, quince and mulberries origi- 

 nated in Asia; and Africa's gift is the w^atermelon. For some 

 two or three thousand years man has cultivated the European 

 PLUM and the Eurasian cherry. In the last few thousand years 

 the European portion of this area has contributed the straw- 

 berry, GOOSEBERRY and CURRANT. Asia has yielded currants 



