Corn or Maize. — Although Maize is an American and 

 a comparatively recent plant, its origin is unknown. The 

 Indians cultivated it before the arrival of Europeans. It is 

 probable that it was evolved from one or more of the many 

 maize-like plants that grow wild in semi-tropical America. 



Bean. — De Candolle is of the opinion that the common 

 kidney or haricot bean is of South American origin, and was 

 introduced into Europe soon after the discovery of America. 

 The Lima bean is also a native of South America. The 

 common broad bean of Europe, however, had its origin in 

 the Mediterranean and Caspian basins and was cultivated 

 by the lake-dwellers and the ancient Egyptians. 



Pea. — Both the Field and the Garden Pea originated 

 in the Mediterranean basin, where the wild form grows. 

 The former is of recent introduction, but the latter is 

 much older, having been cultivated by the Greeks and Ro- 

 mans, and even by the lake-dwellers. It originated pro- 

 bably from the wild Field Pea. 



Clovers. — These legumes are of comparatively recent 

 introduction,, perhaps in the 16th century. Wild forms 

 grow in the Mediterranean basin. 



Alfalfa. — Although this plant is of recent introduction 

 into America, it was cultivated thousands of years ago by 

 the Persians. It grows wild in Western Asia. 



Potato. — Evidence points to the Andean slopes as the 

 native home of the potato. It was taken to Europe by the 

 Spaniards, and then by them also to the United States. 



Turnip and Cabbage are of recent introduction, domes- 

 tication ocurring in Northern Europe where wild forms still 

 ex St. 



Apple.— The apple was cultivated by the lake-dwellers, 

 the Greeks and the Romans and other races in the Mediter- 

 ranean basin, but the, fruit was small and clustered like the 

 crabs. The increase in size and flavor belongs to compara- 

 tively recent times. The main modern varieties have orig- 

 ginated as chance seedlings, — probably mutations in many 

 cases. 



Jean Van Mons (1765-1842), a Belgian, and Thomas 

 Andrew Knight (1759-1838), an Englishman, may very 

 properly be called the fathers of modern fruit culture, the 

 former demonstrating the value of selection, and the latter 

 the value of crossing in the improvemen of plants. In the 

 development of American fruits it is a noteworthy fact that 

 many standard varieties were "accidental seedlings or 

 chance discoveries of valuable wild forms." 



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