Bartlett Pear (1844); Thompson Seedless (1895); Catawba

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

BARTLETT PEAR

   Not an entry in OED, although there are two citations.
   Enoch Bartlett is said to have introduced it in Massachusetts in 1812.  The name doesn't show up that early on the databases.

   April 1844, AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST (American Periodical Series), pg. 97:
   As an example, the Bartlett pear, which in ENgland is frequently watery, and is ranked in the last edition of the London Catalogue as second rate, he has found one of the finest fruits here.

---------------------------------------------------------------
THOMPSON SEEDLESS

   This is a name of both the sultana (raisin) and an orange.  The former is far more popular.  Again, no OED entry.  Supposedly, it was introduced in 1876.

   Charles Nordhoff, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND THE SANDWICH ISLANDS (1875)(Making of America-Michigan Books database), pg. 124:
   Nobody has yet tried the Seedless Sultana, which, however, bears well here, and would make, I should think, an excellent cooking raisin.

Search the Full-Text of Harper's Weekly, 1857-1912
95-08-24
Page 797
     A raisin-vineyard is in full bearing in three years, but
the grape has not reached its perfection until the vine
from which it springs is six or seven years old.
     The Muscat and Thompson seedless are the best variety
of raisin grape cultivated, the latter having only been in-
troduced within the last few years, but the Zinfandell and
Sultana have also large claims upon popularity.

---------------------------------------------------------------
CATAWBA

   Lots of good citations on the American Periodical Series database for "catawba," but nothing very close to its 1801-1802 origin in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
   OED--always way off on food--has 1857 for "Catawba."

   October 1853, PLOUGH, THE LOOM, AND THE ANVIL, pg. 197:
   "History of the Catawba Grape."
(First published in WESTERN HORTICULTURAL REVIEW--ed.)

   February 1834, FARMER'S REGISTER, pg. 574:
   "Carter's Catawba Wine."

   November 1825, NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA AGRICULTURAL MONTHLY INTELLIGENCER AND FARMER MAGAZINE, "American Vineyards--Produce of Mr. Adlum's" by John Adlum, pg. 63:
   This year, Tokay or Catawba, Bland, Madeira, and all the foreign kinds of varieties, perished;...
(This is dated November 1824--ed.)