Wally Day wrote:

>And Amadeus wrote:
>
>> And <500 years of usage is even much less
>> than the widespread use of cereals (>7000).
>
>And I contend:
>
>The "age" of Native Americans on this continent keeps
>getting older and older. The most recent estimates
>I've read are as high as 20,000-25,000 years ago. If
>this is true, then the use and cultivation of the
>tomato *could* pre-date the introduction of grain
>agriculture.
Hi,
<500 years of usage for Tomatoes was ment for humans not
descending from
native american origin - which probably are the most of all
english speaking people.

Nevertheless a (kind of) cultivation of a fruit
might be beneficial to humans -
even if not "accustomed" to our anchestors' genes.
Because any humans might have supported (selected) plants
that do better to the body - have less acids for example.
Mainly fruit trees, but possibly smaller plants too.
Necessary is only the understanding that a plant has seeds
from wich grow new plants with similar properties.
Any human or animal just "liking" a fruit will help to spread
it too spimply by eating it, and intentionally or not
carrying it further.

regards
Amadeus



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