Q94 MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 
The debt which the world owes to these ancient 
civilizations of Mexico and Central America becomes 
apparent when we list even the more important of the 
agricultural plants and technical processes, fibers, gums, 
dyes, ete., which were taken over by Europeans from 
the American Indians. Special notice should be given 
to the following :— 
Food Plants Cultivated by American Indians 
Maize Pineapples Cashew nut 
Potatoes Nispero Pacay 
Sweet potatoes Barbados cherry Jocote 
Tomatoes Strawberries Star apples 
Pumpkins Persimmons Paraguay tea 
Squashes Papaws Alligator pear 
Lima beans Guava Sour sop 
Kidney beans Arracacha Sweet sop 
Peppers Peanuts Custard apple 
Cacao Oca Cassava 
Important Economic Contributions of American 
Indians 
MEDICINES 
Tobacco 
Cinchona (Quinine) 
Cascara Sagrada 
Cocaine 
DOMESTICATED ANIMALS 
Alpaca 
Llama 
Guinea pig 
Dog 
Muscovy duck 
Turkey 
Dyers 
Anil 
Cochineal 
Logwood 
FIBERS 
Cotton 
Henequen 
GuMs 
Rubber 
Copal 
Peruvian Balsam 
