ADAPTATION OF VARIETIES IO7 



dition and the amount of rough handling it will endure 

 without becoming unsalable are most important com- 

 mercial qualities depending largely upon the combined 

 effects of the form and structure of the fruit, solidity 

 and firmness of the flesh and ripening habit. In all 

 these resepcts we have varieties which differ greatly, 

 from the Honor Bright, which requires as much time 

 to ripen, and when ripe is firm-fleshed and will re- 

 main usable as long as a peach, to those which 24 

 hours after reaching their full size are fully colored 

 and ripe, and in 24 hours more are so over-ripe and 

 soft that they will break open of their own weight. 



These are only some of the varietal differences of 

 the tomato. Are such differences of practical import- 

 ance? I think they are, and that a wise selection of 

 the type best suited to one's own particular conditions 

 and requirements is one of the most essential requisites 

 of satisfactory tomato culture. How important it 

 seems to practical tomato growers may be illustrated 

 by an actual case. 



In a certain section of New Jersey the money-ma- 

 king crop is early tomatoes, and they are grown to 

 such an extent that from an area with a radius of 

 not exceeding 5 miles they have shipped as much as 

 15,000 bushels in one day, and the shipments will 

 often average 8,000 bushels for days together. They 

 have tried a great number of sorts, but have settled 

 upon a certain type of a well-known variety as that 

 best suited to their conditions and needs. Seeds of 

 this variety which are supposed to produce plants of 

 the exact type wanted can be bought from seedsmen 

 for 10 cents an ounce and at much lower rates for 



