■ 4 THE PLANT AND ITS RELATIONS 



, Of C and P, 37 per cent are annuals, about 8 per cent biennials, 33 per cent herbaceous perennials, 

 and about 22 per cent ligneous perennials. 



Among all seed-bearing plants, "the annuals are not more than 50 per cent, and the biennials 

 1 or at most 2 per cent. It is clear that at the beginning of civilization plants which yield 

 an immediate return are most prized. They offer, moreover, this advantage, that their cultivation 

 is easily diffused or increased, either because of the abundance of seed, or the same species may 

 be grown in summer in the North, and in winter or all the year round in the tropics." 



Of the 247 species, 193 have been found wild, 27 half-wild or spontaneous and 27 are entirely 

 unknown in a wild condition. Of the species in A and D, 63 per cent are known wild, and, of less than 

 2,000 years, 83 per cent. 



Seven species (including the broad bean, tobacco, wheat and maize) appear to be extinct (or at least 

 unknown) in a wild state. 



The nativity of three ancient species of the group A is unknown — common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) 

 and two squashes {Cueurbita moschata and C. Jidfolia). 



The very ancient species, group A, "are especially plants provided with roots, seeds, and fruits 

 proper for the food of man. Afterwards come a few species having fruits agreeable to the taste, 

 or textile, tinctorial, oil-producing plants, or yielding stimulating drinks by infusion or fermentation. 

 There are among these only two green vegetables, and no fodder. The orders which predominate 

 are the Cruciferse, Leguminosse, and Gramineae." 



In De Gandolle's discussion are not included several North American species that are now cultivated, 

 as the native plums, cherries, raspberries, blaftkberries, and even the native grapes (on which a good 

 part of our viticulture is founded). The addition of these would modify some of the above figures. 

 For accounts of these plants, see Bailey's "Evolution of Our Native Fruits." 



The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture (1914-1917), the six-volume work founded on the earlier 

 Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, accounts for 20,602 species of plants, offered by dealers and known in 

 cultivation for food, ornament, fancy, medicine and other uses. In addition to these species, 6,715 recog- 

 nized Latin-named varieties are accountedf or, making a total of 27,317 plants known to cultivation within 

 the range of the Cyclopedia. The total number of binomial and trinomial botanical names admitted is 

 39,775, a good many of which, of course, are regarded as synonyms or dupHoates. Of the more than 27,000 

 Latin-named species and varieties, 2,753 are native in North America north of Mexico. It is seen, therefore, 

 that the western hemisphere is contributing great numbers of plants to domestication; if to this number are 

 added the species derived from the hemisphere south of the Rio Grande, the contribution takes on great 

 importance. Yet the species desirable for cultivation and known only in the wild are more numerous than 

 we appreciate. 



Cultivated plants may be thrown into four broad classes : those grown for domestic animals ; 'those 

 grown to provide shelter and clothing for man ; those that provide edible, condimental or medicinal 

 parts or products for man ; those that appeal to the artistic impulses. These are not cultural groups 

 however ; nor is it possible to make any consistent cultural classification, since all groups overlap. 

 Perhaps we cannot do better, as a rough working classification, than to make the following somewhat 

 indefinite associations : 



Forage and fodder crops Stimulants 



Cereal grains Aromatic and medicinal plants 



Root crops Perfumery plants 



Fiber crops Fruit (pomological) crops 



Sugar plants Vegetable-garden crops 



Oil plants Ornamental plants 



Dye-stuff plants Timber crops 



Beverage-producing plants Manuring crops 



In the present volume it is proposed to consider in some detail the important field crops, excepting 

 such as ordinarily fall under the department of horticulture. The leading medicinal crops are admitted 

 for brief discussion, and many incidental plants are mentioned, in order to make the book useful for 

 reference. It is the purpose of this Cyclopedia to catch the spirit of the main agricultural industries 

 in North America. 



