1885.] Kitchen Garden Esculents of American Origin. 667 
in prehistoric times, but give no evidence for the statement. I 
can find nothing which can countenance this belief except in the 
number of varieties that are cultivated in some islands, as thirty- 
three in the Hawaian islands." The name cuma/a in New Zea- 
land, and Otaheite,? and Fiji kumara’ is strangely like the cumar 
of the Quito dialect* We may add here that the camote of 
Yucatan was called in the islands azz and datatas, 
Tomato.—Tomatoes were eaten by the Nahua tribes, and were 
called fomat/, and also by the wild tribes of Mexico,’ and Her- 
nandez® has a chapter “ De tomatl, seu planta acinosa vel Solano, 
and describes several sorts under their Mexican name.’ It was 
described by various European botanists of the sixteenth century, 
which indicates its introduction to Europe, and for this botanical 
history we may refer to Gray and Trumbull already cited. It 
seems to have been grown in European gardens as a fruit, from 
its first introduction, judging from the references in Dodonzus” 
and Gerarde," but Parkinson, 1656, speaks of it as grown in Eng- 
land for ornament and curiosity only. In Italy Chauteauvieux, . 
1812, mentions their cultivation, on a large scale, for the Naples 
and Rome market. It is probable that their use was at first more 
. general among southern nations, as we find that the Anglo-Saxon 
races were the last to receive them into the kitchen garden. Thus 
in 1774 Long” describes the fruit well, and mentions their often 
use in soups and sauces, and adds that they are likewise fried and 
served up with eggs. In 1778 Mawe and Abercrombie” mention 
five varieties as known, two of which are described as scentless 
and burnet-leaved, and add that they are eaten by the Spaniards 
and Portuguese in particular, and are in high esteem. 
In the United States its introduction preceded by many years 
its use as we at present know it, It is said to have reached Phil- 
1 Wilkes, U. S. Ex. Ex., Iv, 282. 
2 Cook’s Voy., I, 199. 
3 Seeman, Fl. Vil. 
‘ Mackie’ s note in Cieza’s Trav., Hak. Soc. ed., 234. 
5 Fourth Voy. of Columbus, Gen. Coll. of Voy. by the Port., 440. 
* Bancroft, Native Races, 11. 356. 
