226 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



shape as well as colour ; some being of a bright yellow, 

 and others of a fine red. It appears, by the Hortus 

 Kewensis, to have been cultivated in England as early as 

 the year 1596 ; but we conclude it was introduced several 

 years previous to that date, as Gerard mentions it in the 

 early part of his voluminous work, as growing in his 

 garden. This author calls it pomum amoris ; and says, 

 " apples of love do growe in Spaine, Italic, and such hot 

 countries, from whence myself have received seedes for 

 my garden, where they do increase and prosper." 



" There hath happened unto my handes another sort," 

 says this author, " agreeing very notablie with the former, 

 onely the fruite heereof was yellow of colour." (Now this 

 work, which was published in 1597, must have taken 

 some years in compiling and printing, 8tc. as it contains 

 several thousand wood plates.) 



Miller says, in the sixth edition of his Gardener's Dic- 

 tionary, " the Italians and Spaniards eat love-apples as 

 we do cucumbers, with pepper, oil, and salt, as well as 

 for sauces. 



The Portuguese call this fruit tomato, and eat it either 

 raw or stewed. 



Lunan says of this fruit, " I have eaten five or six raw 

 at a time : they are full of a pulpy juice, and of small 

 seeds, which you swallow with the pulp, and have some- 

 thing of a gravy taste. The juice is cooling, and very 

 proper for defluxions of hot humours in the eyes, which 

 may occasion a glaucoma, if not prevented : they are also 

 good in the St. Anthony's fire, and all inflammations ; and 

 a cataplasm of them is very proper for burns." Miller 

 also says, that the love-apple was used as a medicine in 

 his time. 



This fruit has long been used by the wealthy Jewish 

 families in this country : and within these last few years 

 it has come into great use with all our best cooks, as it 



