Page:Science (journal) Volume 1 1883.djvu/24

 coming of the Spaniards: and the idea that it might have been native to both hemispheres is discarded as altogether improbable. Upon this showing, it would appear that the plant should have been set down as of American, rather than of wholly unknown, origin. Indeed, when all the evidence is brought out, the discovery of these beans in the Ancon tombs need excite no more surprise than that of the maize which accompanied them.

For maize, beans, and pumpkins were cultivated together, immemorially, all the way from the Isthmus to Canada. And, although some of the sorts of beans mentioned by Oviedo in 1526, as raised in great abundance in Nicaragua where they are native, and also of those everywhere met with by De Soto (1539-42) in his march from Tampa Bay in Florida to the Mississippi, doubtless belonged to Phaseolus lunatus, yet most if not all of those which at the same early period Jacques Cartier found cultivated by the Indians of Canada, must have belonged to Phaseolus vulgaris, or its dwarf variety P. nanus; for only these are well adapted to the climate of Canada especially the low and precocious variety, which alone has time to mature between the spring and the autumn frosts. Indeed those same beans, derived from the Indians along with maize and pumpkins, have doubtless continued here in New England in direct descent, to form that staple diet for which the northern part of the coast of Massachusetts has long been famous; so that when Rufus Choate, defending a ship-captain against a charge of ill-treatment in having fed his crew exclusively upon it, rehearsed, in his accustomed affluence of language, the praises of "that excellent esculent and superlatively succulent vegetable, the bean," he was celebrating the good qualities of a distinctively and aboriginally American article of food. We are not to suppose, however, that this species had its home in North America, at least north of Mexico. The same may be said of our squashes and pumpkin, for which similar reclamation may be attempted upon another occasion.

The cultivators of more than one department of science have reason to thank our author for having returned in mature age to the studies of a third of a century ago, and to admire the thoroughness, patience, sound judgment, affluence of knowledge, and felicity of exposition, which characterize this, as indeed they do all his writings. We are well pleased that the first number of our new journal should introduce to the American public an important contribution to science by De Candolle. 

Natural History of Minnesota

coming of the Spsuisrdn: and the idea that tho American public on importsnt oontribntion it might have been native to both hcmispheres to selsuos by Do Csudolle. Ass Gun. is discarded as altogether improbable. Ufion this showin. it would a than the pant .».....n ¤...5b.e.. .... d¤‘3.‘Z.°’i. or Ammon, M ww HMOM or Mr-¤¤v¤· rather than of wholly unknown, origin. In- The geoloyirol and aororobnhraq survey qr Mw oeen,whe¤ su we evidence le brought out, the •=w¢¤- TM M5 ¤··¤··¤¢ ~:····¤ /··r Me vw ancoreryer were sean. in thc alma amos mi; N· H- “·¤¤¤=¤· Sw z¤¤¤·>z»~ SM need excite no more surprise than our or the *""‘ · “"’· 2“ P·· “ PL “'°~ maize which ucoompauied them. Tn: principel part of this volume oonslsts For maize. beans, and pumpkins were wl- in the Preliminary list of rocks and 'ljypicsl _ sirawd together. immemorialiy, all the way chin sections of the rocks of the cupriicrous · hom the Isthmus to Canada, And, although series ia Minnesota, articles which appear to some of the sorta of beans mentioned by be the result of the pcunrious way iu which Oviedo iu l526, as raised in great abundance Minnesota, in common with many other ststes, in Nicaragua where they are native, und deals withhergeologiealsurvey.cornpellingthe also or those everywhere mer. with by De Sow shale geologisuc do work that ought to hodoae (1539-42) in his march from Tampa Bay in only by competent skilled limhologisls. The Florida to the Mississippi, doubtless belonged results in this case. as elsewhere under similar to Phaoeolus lnnatus, yet moat if not all of oircomslanocs in our conntrgr, are the same those which at the same early period Jacques as they would he with paleontology, were the Cartier bond cultivated by Lhe Indians of average slxtc geologist compelled to work up Cnnsds. must have belonged to Phaseolus nllthe fossils ofhis survey. Good litholugiesl vulgaris, or ins dwarf variety P. nanuo; for wort requires something more than a micro· only these are well odnpted lo the olimahs of scope, a few thin sections, aud n fair knowi- Canada especially the low and precocious edge of minerals. variety, which alone hss time no mnurre The convenient summary of opinions which betwmn the spring snd the autumn trusts. have been held of certain rocks ln the l4ko— Indeed thou same bonus, derived from the Superior region given on pp. 123-l26 appears Indians along with maize and pumpkins, have to be s digest of the mom elaborate slshs- douhtless continued here in New England in ments made in Dr. Wsdswonhha nores on direct descent, to form that staple diet for the geology of this diszrict (Bull. mus. oomp. which the northern port of the coast of Mas· wool., vii. No. l). with additions of • Iaterdale, aaehuaeths hm long been famous; so that although no credit is given to that writer: on when Rams Choate, defending s ship-oapuia another page or Scnnrce, Mr. Selwyn takes against a charge or ilhtmatment in rearing exceptions m the views uccredlred to him, · fed his crew exclusively upon ir, rehearsed, though Mr. Winehell would seem ut lim. sight in his accustomed erlluence of language, tho to he warranted in his stahernenza {Tom Mr. praises of ·· that excellent escnlent and super- Seivryn's Canadian report or 1877 · 78, pp. latirely succuien: vegetable, the heun," he 9 A, 14 A, The exeoutiou et the three maps was celebming the good quulitice of a dia- accompanying the Minnesors report is lo be unotively and ahoriginally American urticle of praised. food. In the zolilogical section of the report, Mr. We nm not to suppose, however, that this C. L. Herrick presents a second ce-nrrihulion species had its home in North America, at oo a knowledge of the t‘resh·wa¢er Cmsuoes leest nonh of Mexiee. The same muy he of the cme. In this. as in his hm paper ssid of our sqnaahes and pumpkin, for which (Seventh report. 1878). he lirniu himself similar mclavnamion may bo mempted upon nluwst entirely to the microscopic Entou-ros-· another occasion. tnca. These two papers, with Birgc's Notes The cnitivators of more chen one depsrt· on Cladooere (ofCaruhridge,M•.ss.,sud Madi· ment olsdence have reason to thank our onthor son. Wise.), comprise about all the syetensntlo for having returned in matumsge bo she studies work on those animals done iu this country. V oh third of s century sgo. and to admin tho Them is as yet, then, no ha•is for • dis· thoroughness, patience. sound judgment, anu- enseion ot their geographical disrriburion. eues of knowledge, and relicity or exposixion, Aeoording hc Mr. Herrick. sixteen out or the which characterize this, as indeed they do all thinydhree species described are slao Euro· his wrltinga. We are wall pleased nhalthohnt penn. Thirteen speoies •re now. sud two number of our new journal nhould introduce to new genon ure established. Looking our