During- Queen Victoria's Reign. 13 



SPINACH. 



No great advance was made in this Vegetable until a few years ago, when the 

 Victoria and other similar strains were introduced. It is true that many varieties 

 bearing Continental names have been grown, some standing rather longer than 

 others before running to seed ; but the difference was only slight. With the advent 

 of the Victoria, however, the duration of the crop was greatly prolonged. Still 

 more recently this variety has been surpassed, and we now have, both in the round 

 and prickly seeded sections, strains of Spinach which remain good for weeks after 

 others have gone to seed. 



Time will not permit of my referring to Parsley, Rhubarb, Vegetable Marrow 

 and some other Vegetables, and I must pass on to 



THE TOMATO 



which has increased in popularity to a greater extent and more rapidly than any 

 other Vegetable referred to in this paper. 



A proof that it was not much cultivated in the early years of Her Majesty's 

 reign is shown by the fact that in a wholesale seed list published in 1852 the only 

 Tomato mentioned is the common Red. It is within the last quarter of a century 

 that such an enormous impetus has been given to the growth of Tomatoes, in 

 consequence of the more cultivated taste of the masses of the people, and now the 

 fruit is grown in almost every garden, from the cottager's upwards. The Queen's 

 gardener, Mr. Owen Thomas, has identified himself with its improvement, and 

 Frogmore Selected is one of the best sorts grown at the present day. 



Mention must also be made of the very excellent golden yellow or orange 

 Tomato raised by Mr. Thomas, which forms a striking feature in the Royal Trophy 

 at this exhibition. 



The introduction of the Perfection type was the prelude to many others, and 

 now the number is legion. New selections are plentiful enough, as is proved by 

 our own trials of over 200 groups this year. 



To mention in detail anything like the whole of the varieties which deserve 

 notice would take up too much time, but for earliest outdoor use Conqueror, Earliest 

 of All, Conference, and Early Ruby are popular kinds. Fine shapely fruits and 

 plenty of them are produced by Ifield Gem, Eclipse, Best of All, Duke of York, 

 and Ham Green Favourite ; and in yellow varieties, Golden Nugget as a small- 

 fruited kind, and Golden Queen may be relied on to ripen early and produce good 

 crops. 



Strange developments, in which the fruit partakes of the character of the Peach, 

 are observed in certain kinds, and the crossing of the Peach Tomato with Perfection 

 has resulted in some charming types. 



The question as to which is the best Tomato admits of many different answers. 

 With white, yellow, orange, pink, ruby, and scarlet kinds, not to mention the 

 varying sizes and shapes, there is a wide choice for the most fastidious, both as 

 regards external appearance and flavour. 



