22 THE PEANUT— THE UNPREDICTABLE LEGUME 



wild species began to be extended beyond the borders of Brazil. Since 

 then the wild species have been found abundantly distributed from the 

 Amazon River through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern 

 Argentina to about 35° south latitude. The wild species of Arachis form 

 an important part of the herbage for supporting the vast herds of cattle in 

 this region. Some species seem especially adapted to growth and survival 

 in hard clay soils and under conditions of close grazing. Others occur 

 mostly in loose-textured sandy or alluvial soil. The cultivated forms are 

 even more widely distributed and appear to be especially numerous and 

 diverse in northern Argentina. E. C. Clos (9), in 1939, published on the 

 types of cultivated peanuts, apparently indigenous to Argentina. He as- 

 sembled 46 collections, including those grown commercially as well as 

 those grown by various groups of Indians. These were grown and 

 grouped according to characteristics such as: Vine type, bunch or 

 runner ; pod size and shape ; size and number of seed ; and color of seed 

 coat, black, red, flesh, white, and white with red splotches. The 46 

 strains appeared to be quite homogenous and fell into IS distinct classes. 



There is considerable evidence indicating that the cultivated forms of 

 the peanut originated in the Gran Chaco area including the valleys of the 

 Paraguay and Parana rivers, and were at an early date distributed 

 throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of both South and North 

 America. 



The various Indian tribes were not so isolated as one might suppose. 

 In this connection, it is of interest to remember the Incan legend that they 

 came to Peru from the South; also that the Incan Empire included a 

 part of northern Argentina well east of the Andes. Archaeologists and 

 ethnologists are convinced that a great influx of South American Indians 

 came to Central America in a pre-Maya era. Central American Indians 

 told the Spaniards of the fabulously wealthy Incas in Peru and of the 

 great cities of the Aztecs in Mexico. Apparently there were regular trade 

 routes between the Aztecs and the pueblo-dwelling tribes in what is now 

 New Mexico. Archaeologists (13) also find evidence of communication 

 between the Indians of the West Indies and those of the entire Gulf 

 Coast. 



It is not unbelievable, therefore, that the peanut was carried by the 

 Indians to most areas suited to its culture, just as they spread corn, 

 bean, pumpkin, cassava, sweet potato, and Irish potato. 



How can we account for rapid establishment of peanut culture in other 

 portions of the world, particularly in Africa and in Asia ? 



Chevalier (6) reviewed the argument of Brown, Ficalho, and Wiener 



