America's Crop Heritage


and how to forward them. Ellis listed many plants which he
hoped would be tried in the American Colonies. In his next
book, published in 1773, Ellis gave some more information on
plant introduction in the British Colonies.

 I must further add, that there is at present a laudable spirit among many of
the curious East-India captains, who are determined if possible, to bring over olive,
plants of the true black pepper, the Cassia Lignea, the Rattan, and true walking
Cane, Mangos and Mangosteens, Cardamums, Sago Palm, Sappan-tree the Assa
Foetida, and to search for the valuable spices near some of our settlements; so that
in a few years, I hope... our Colonies in North-America and the West Indies, will
be in possession of all the useful plants of the East, as well as those of the Spanish
and Portuguese settlements in South America.

 Ellis made special mention of John Bradby Blake, resident-
factor in China, who brought upland rice to South Carolina
from Canton, and also credited him with bringing over "Cochin
China Rice," seeds of the "Tallow tree," a single gardenia, and
other curious and useful seeds from Canton. Ellis mentions
rhubarb as having been sent into North America for introduction
a year or two previous to 1773.
 Although some of the plants native to America are of economic
importance today, the European immigrant brought with him a
much greater store of plant life. While most of our leading field,
fruit, and vegetable crops were introduced during colonial times,
much work remained to be done in finding varieties suited to
special needs and growing conditions. The development of
present day crops is due in a large measure to the successful
importation of foreign plant varieties.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 1. Edwards, E. E., and Rasmussen, W. D., A Bibliography of the Agriculture of the
 American Indian. USDA, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Miscellaneous
 Publication 447, 1942.
2. Ryerson, K.A., "History and Significance of the Foreign Plant Introduction Work
 of the United States Department of Agriculture," Agricultural History, VII, July,
 1933.
 3. Gray, L. C., History of Agriculture in the Southern United States to 186o.
 Carnegie Institute Publication 430, Washington: 1933.
4. Earnest, Ernest, John and William Bartram, Botanists and Explorers. Philadel-
 phia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1940.
5. Benson, A. E., History of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Norwood,
 Massachusetts: Plimpton Press, 1929.
 6. Holland, J.W., "The Beginning of Public Agricultural Experimentation in
 America: The Trustees' Garden in Georgia," Agricultural History, XII, July, 1938.
 7. Wright, Richardson, The Story of Gardening. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co.,
 1934.