The Solanum esculentum: mentioned in botanical works, 1767, 1794: N.E.D.
1819. The crimson tomato, the dusky egg-plant, split and spiced, and the green fig, are common at table.—Henry C. Knight (‘Arthur Singleton’), ‘Letters from the South and West,’ p. 130 (Boston, 1824).
1832. Egg-plants are here brought to market; some of them of purple colour, are as large as a child’s carpet-ball; they are sliced and fried in butter, and I am told have the flavour of fried oysters.—Cincinnati correspondent, The Mirror, Lond., May 26.
