220 NEW JERSEY STATE AGRICULTURAL 



quite free from this form of hair and, on this account, the plants 

 of this species are smooth in contrast with the hairiness of the 

 ordinary kinds of tomatoes. 



By breeding the two above species together, the results 

 obtained show a reduction of the hairiness of the hybrids and the 

 hope is entertained that a marketable size of fruit may be finally 

 obtained with plants that are smooth. Plate X shows portions 

 of these hairy stems alternating with those that are comparatively 

 smooth. 



The chief feature of the study of hairs is in connection with 

 a second form of outgrowth from the stems and leaves that, 

 from their nature, are known as glandular hairs. This kind of 

 hair is short and low set and not easily seen without a hand-lens 

 and the tip of each is expanded into a knob from which exudes a 

 disagreeable thick liquid that, stains the hands and clothing and 

 is the source of the rank smell that is characteristic of the tomato 

 foliage. This form of hair is also much less abundant upon the 

 "Currant" than the ordinary kind and, by the breeding above- 

 named, it is hoped to get plants that, with other qualities not 

 reduced, may possess the much desired addition of freedom from 

 the hairs in question. 



While the hope is entertained of removing all the spines from 

 the eggplant, and particularly the calyx, where they are a nuis- 

 ance to all who handle the fruits, in like manner the work of 

 obtaining glandless tomato plants is to be pursued along both the 

 avenue of breeding and of selection. To be able to go among 

 the tomato plants, even when moist from rain or dew, and not 

 get smeared with the ill-smelling glandular exudation is a con- 

 dition of this highly esteemed vegetable fruit that will be much 

 appreciated. 



THE TOMATO FLOWER CLUSTER. 



Li the flower cluster of the tomatoes, there is a great range of 

 variation, the extremes being the smiple raceme with the flowers, 

 and afterwards the fruits, arranged alternately upon the right 

 and left of a single axis. This is illustrated at 2 in Plate XI, 

 where in the lower portion of the inflorescence the small fruits 

 are shown and nearer the tip the flowers and flower buds are dis- 

 posed in the same manner. The "Currant" tomato is of this 

 racemose tvpe, the cluster of fruits resembling quite closely that 

 of the currant proper, from which fruit the common name for 

 the type of tomato in question might have been given. 



The opposite extreme is met with in many of the large-fruited 

 sorts, as the "Ponderosa," and falls into the class of flower clus- 



