Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-21
HISTORY OF THE ToMArO.
Eaten Over Three Hundred Years MO
When q, Came tsto Comr,es Use.

A writer on horticulture states that
the tomato is Of South American origin,
and was introduced into Europe by the
Spaniards in the sixteenth century, who
discovered its valuable qualities a an
esculent. From Spain its cultivation
extended to Italy and the south oil
France, and finally 10 this country,
where it first began to be used as a
vegetable in the latter part Of the last
century. The tomato Is mentioned by a
writer on plants in England as early as
1897. Parkinson calls them lOye-ap-
pies " in 1856, and says I" they are re-
garded as curiosities." DodoenS. a
Dutch herballs. writes in 1888 Of their
use a. a vegetable, "to be eaten with
pepper. salt, and OIL" They were eaten
by the Malays in 1855. Arthur Young,
the English agriculturiSt, saw tomatoes
in the market al Montpelier, in France,
in 1898. The tomato was probably
brought from San Domingo by the
French refugees, who also introduced
into this country the eggplant. the
okra, and the small Chill pepper.
Dr. James Tilton. of Delaware. stated
that when he returned from study in
Europe. about 1902. he found the to-
mato growing in the gardens of the
DupontS, Goresches. and other French
emierantS from san Domingo. and re-
marked to his family that It was a
vegetable highly esteemed and gene
rally eaten in France. Spain. and Italy.
and especially valuable as a corrective
of bile in the system. DIR. Tilton emf
grated to Madison. Ind, IN lS20, and
raised the tomato IN his garden there
1 1t was then unknown in Louisville or
the adjacent parts Of Kentucky. twas
also known that the tomato was planted
early in the present century on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland. that land
of terrapins. soft crabs. oysters, can
yas-back ducks. and other epicurean
delcacies.
Many years elapsed. however, before
the tomato became a favOrite esculcnt
IN that region. In ISL the Spanish
Minister saw the tomato growing IA the
garden of Mrs. Philip Barton Key.
whose husband wrote the d" star
Spangled Banner. and he recommended
it a. having been used IN Spain for
many wears. In l>l4 gentleman
dining with a friend at lIarper'S Ferry.
aud "a nfa tho Fah'n n
marked Il see YOU eat tomatoes
here tie District people are afraid of
them. Tomatoes were brought 10
Massachusetts by DR.. William GOODWIN,
not William Goodwin, cashier of the
Bank of Plymouth. Mas Or. Goodwin
spent many years OF his ear y life IN
Spain. at Cadiz. Alicante. and Nalen-
cha. and was American \ice-ConSul q.
Tariagona during IFS terrible siege b}
the French troops IN the penln>ui
war lie came home 20 Plymod,h :
ISL. and died IN Havana IN l~-j. a
belonged to a family Of cpicure, Oh
fathers side. and his mother. dajSh
ter Of Captain Simeon Sampson, oif.hr
armed ship Mercury. on which lE.nrl
Laurens sailed for Holland IN -, wa
renowned for the excellence Of he
cuisine. lie planted the seed Il th
tomato in the bank garden IN plyyputh
when the plant was di,,e sInate
throughout the town. and TO lark
Island. in Plymouth harbor. : In Nr
Goodwin'S family and thatof g.. Wat
son. ou the island. it va, t,cl a.
vegetable as early as ls2j.
Tomatoe. were sold at ~ market
in New York city in 1870. They wer'
only eaten. however. to a Elmitcd ex
tent. being generally used for the man
uiacture of cat>up. ~ hrly r. lN2
the tomato was served uIy on the tabl
Of good old Mrs. llaillbtrt m New
Hampshire. although ,ht could seldom
induce her boardcrS toSlartake Of II
Her husband, Captain faIliburton, ha
doubtless imbibcd 4 tate for il in Spain