216 GARDENING FOE PROFIT. 



thoroughly, I planted twenty-five plants each of the four 

 most popular sorts, under circumstances exactly similar in 

 all respects ; there was no difference whatever in earliness, 

 and but little perceptible difference in productiveness. 



I believe that our ordinary methods of saving Tomato 

 and all other seeds have, in fact, much to do in preventing 

 us making any advance in' procuring early varieties ; if we 

 would only take the trouble to always select the first ma- 

 tured fruits, and the best specimens only, for seeds, and 

 so continue, there is no question whatever, but it would 

 amply repay the trouble. But the grower for market 

 grudges to' give up his first basket of fruit, that may realize 

 him $5 or $10, for a few ounces of seed, knowing that he 

 can get plenty when his crop is not worth the gathering 

 for market. But, depend upon it, he makes a mistake, 

 for the seed from his first fruits would, perhaps, pay him 

 a hundred times better, if used for seed, the next year, than 

 any price he might get for it in the market. 



In private gardens, where space is often limited, a 

 greater quantity of fruit will be obtained by elevating 

 the branches of the Tomato from the ground with brush, 

 such as is used for sticking Peas, or by tying to laths 

 nailed against a board fence ; or, what is neater yet, the 

 hoop training system as practised in France. But for 

 market purposes, on a large scale, it would require too 

 much labor. 



The following are a few of the many varieties grown. 



Early Smooth Red. — A very old variety, but one 

 which, for general crop for market purposes, I believe is 

 yet unsurpassed. In the trial above referred to, it was 



