664 Kitchen Garden Esculents of American Origin. [July, 
zil, 1557, mentions “pourpier.” Sagard-Theodat, speaking of 
the country of the Hurons, speaks of pourpier or pourcelaine being 
a common weed of their cornfields. These quotations are from 
Gray and Trumbull’s article, Am. Pour. of Sc., April, 1883. 
Champlain, in 1605, speaking of the Indians of the Maine 
coast: “ They brought also some purslane, which grows in large 
quantities among the Indian corn, and of which they make no 
more account than of weeds.”! Josselyn, about 1672, speaks of 
it in Massachusetts, and Cutler, 1785, mentions it in cornfields, 
and as eaten. 
Hawkins, 1593, at Cape Blanco, So. America, found upon the 
rocks “ great store of the hearbe purslane,” which he collected 
for the refreshment of his sick.* 
_ While it is not certain that these authorities all meant Portulaca 
oleracea in their mention, yet it would appear very strange if such 
a common weed of cultivated lands of the old world had not 
been well known and recognized. 
Purslane, in one variety, yet finds sale among the seeds of our 
seedsmen among potage herbs. 
Claytonia perfoliata Don. is called in France Claytonia de cuba, 
and pourpier d’hiver ; in Spain verdolago de cuba.* 
Sweet Corn.—All the forms of maize are of American origin. 
The early history of the sweet or garden form-species is very 
obscure, although the peculiar appearance and rich edible quality 
of its sweet kernel would presuppose quick and flattering recog- 
nition from the first comers. 
Sweet corn is said by some to have been brought by Lieut. Rich- 
ard Bagnoll from Gen. Sullivan’s expedition against the Six Nations 
in 1779, and to have been called papoon corn. The anonymous 
writer in the New England Farmer (Sep. 7, 1822) under the pseu- 
donym “ Plymotheus,” says: “ That was the first of the species 
ever seen here, and since that time it has been more and more 
diffused ; and I believe within a few years only, has been generally 
and extensively cultivated for culinary purposes.” In another 
communication (Aug. 3, 1822) it is said to have been found during 
= Sullivan’s expedition “among the Indians on the border of the 
Susquehanna.” Another account’ says it was found by Sullivan’s 
81. 
Wishes Voy., Hak, Soc, ed., 137. 
ae * Vilmorin, Les Pl. Pot., 157. 
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