CROPS AROUND THE WORLD: HOW THEY BEGAN.
Barley First grown in Egypt in about 4000 BC. Modern varieties are descended from the strain 'Hordeum spontaneum'. Now grown mostly in Europe, North America and Australia as fodder for cattle and as a source of malt used in distilling and brewing.
Beans Family of plants now very widely grown, and thought to have been first cultivated in about 6000 BC. String, kidney and lima beans originated in Central and South America. Mung and soya beans were first cultivated in Asia, broad beans in Europe.
Maize First cultivated in Mexico in about 5000 BC. Introduced to Europe from the Americas by Christopher Columbus in the late 15th century. Modern varieties are descended from the original cultivated plant which was crossed with a 15th century hybrid called teosinte. Maize is sometimes referred to as Indian corn,
Millet First cultivated in China in about 2700 BC. Now grown mostly for cattle fodder in the USA and Russia, but because of its resistance to drought conditions it is used as food in tropical Africa.
Oats Probably originated as a weed growing with other cereals such as wheat or barley, and was domesticated about 2500 years ago in Asia and Europe. The most widely cultivated form is 'Avena sativa', derived from a western Asian wild grass, 'Avena fatua'. Predominantly used as cattle food, but also used in breakfast cereals and to make porridge.
Potato First know to have been cultivated in the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes in about AD 200. Introduced to Europe by the Spaniards in the late 16th century. More than 150 varieties are now grown.
Rice First known to have been cultivated in India in about 3000 BC, later spreading to China, Japan and Southeast Asia, are now the main producers. About 25 varieties are grown, all descended from an original wild species, 'Oryza sativa'.
Rye Originated as a weed growing among other cereals. First cultivated in southwest Asia in about 1000 BC and is now used as a flour in rye bread or as food for cattle.
Sorghum Probably originated in Africa in about 3000 BC. It is now grown for human and animal consumption in Africa, India, China and the USA.
Wheat Probably the earliest domesticated cereal, developing from chance hybridisations of wild grasses more than 10,000 years ago. It was grown by the early civilisations in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and was being baked into bread in Mesopotamia as early as 8000 BC.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page