America's Crop Heritage


years. More than 95,000 shoots were sent out in 1878, and the
next year 80,000 were distributed. Although a few worthy varieties
were found, the most significant results were the attention directed
to northern Europe as a source of better fruits and the extension
of apple culture farther north.
 Twenty-four new apple varieties received from Kecskemet,
Hungary, in 1893, included Hungarian sorts not previously
brought to America. In 1895, twenty-nine choice apple varieties
received from Austria-Hungary were distributed to experiment
stations for trial. Shoots of eighteen apples received in 1897 from
the Pomologist of New Zealand, and varieties from Australia
were distributed in June, 1897. Northern growers cultivated the
quinces, brought in from Japan after 1854, mostly as ornamentals.
A special appropriation in 1886 of $5,000 to pay for a pomologist,
promoted collection and dissemination of pomological specimens
and information.

 VEGETABLES

 A great variety of new vegetables were tried during the early
years of the Department. Many were imported from England,
France, and Germany by Newton and Capron, and enormous
quantities were mailed to gardeners. Varieties were not carefully
identified and often were little more than trade names varying
from one seed house to another. Isaac Newton, especially, imported
quantities from Charlwood and Cummins of London.
 Of seventy varieties of garden peas tested in 1866, all did well
except a few from Germany. Many melons, squashes, onions, and
other vegetables were sown with profitable results. A watermelon
from China and a variety of other Chinese vegetables were worthy
of special mention. Seed of the "Turnip-Rooted Chervil," a
vegetable of the carrot family described as a delicious vegetable
fit to replace the Irish potato, were sent by Franklin Webster,
consul at Munich, Bavaria, to the Department in 1864. Webster
enclosed directions for its cultivation and preparation as a food.
 In 1877, steps were taken to import the Turkish rhubarb direct
from that country to promote a potential medicinal crop for
the South. Consul Winslow at Paita, Peru, sent stalks of the
yucca plant of Peru with instructions on planting. The tubers,
which grew up to twenty pounds in weight, were used as a staple
article of food among the natives of Peru.