TOMATO 



TOMATO 



3355 



3819. The old-time angled 

 form of tomato. 



carefully for potato bugs, the most effective way of 

 combating them being by hand-picking the beetles and 

 eggs when they first appear. 



When quantity and quality of fruit is second to 

 early ripening, the seed may be sown earlier and the 

 growth of the plants checked by crowding and a 

 scarcity of water; so treated 

 they generally will form a 

 crown cluster of well-de- 

 veloped fruit by the time 

 one dares risk them in the 

 open. They are then set 

 close in the row and rather 

 deep, with the stem and 

 root slanting to the south 

 and will ripen the first clus- 

 ter very early, although the 

 remainder of the crop will 

 be late and poor. 

 When quality rather than quantity of fruit is of first 

 importance, staking and pruning is sometimes advan- 

 tageous, particular!}' if the season or the soil is inclined 

 to be wet. With many growers stakes 2 inches square 

 and 5 to 6 feet long have given the best satisfaction. 

 As soon as the tomato plant forms its first cluster of 

 bloom it divides, and both branches are allowed to 

 grow and then tied to the stakes while all other branches 

 are cut off just beyond the first cluster of blossoms; 

 during the early part of the season this will require 

 daily attention. Staking has been found profitable 

 and is very generally practised in the southern states. 

 Even when first discovered by Europeans, the plant 

 or plants now commonly called tomatoes existed in 

 many forms differing so materially in habit of plant 

 and character of foliage and fruit that they were classed 

 by botanists as distinct species, and the number of 

 varieties offered has increased with frequent changes 

 until American seedsmen have catalogued tomatoes 

 under at least 513 distinct names, while many other 

 more or less distinct forms are commonly grown abroad, 

 particularly in Italy. 



The following are some of the names used in seeds- 

 men's catalogues, many of them standing for distinct 

 forms of vine or fruit, while others are simply varia- 

 tions in stocks. 



Currant or Grape. Rank-growing, but slender small-leaved 

 vine, very productive of long currant-like stems of bright red 

 fruits not over J 3 inch in diameter, of little culinary value, 



Cherry, both Red and Yettoir. Strong-growing vine, very pro- 

 ductive of cherry-shaped fruits, which are excellent for pickles and 

 preserving. 



Pear, both Red and Yettote. Strong-growing vine, small, long- 

 necked, pear-shaped, two-celled fruits. 



Plum, both Red and YeOoie. Long oval-shaped, 2-celled fruits, 

 which are excellent for preserving. 



Turk's Turban. Long oval, bright red fruit, with a peculiar 

 growth on the blossom end. 



Potato or Broad-leared (in a number of variations). Com- 

 paratively small vine, with broad entire leaves. 



Dwarf Champion. Vine very short, compact, leaves thick, 

 crumpled, nearly entire. 



. Vine very short, compact and upright in growth, with 

 distinct thick nearly entire leaves. 



Peach, both Red and Yellow. Fruits covered with down similar 

 to that on a peach or plum. 



Diadem. Fruit bright red, distinctly striped with yellow. 



White Apple. Round smooth yellowish white fruit of delicate 

 flavor and the best of all varieties for eating from the hand. 



Golden Queen. Fruit bright yellow, often with a distinct red 

 blush. 



Each of the above is so distinct in habit of plant 

 foliage or fruit that botanists might perhaps classify 

 them as distinct species, while the following are some 

 of the more distinct of the varietal forms listed by 

 seedsmen under different names. 



Earliana. Comparatively small weak-growing vine, but matur- 

 ing very early a large crop of smooth bright red fruit. 



Bonny Bext. Vigorous vine, ripening very early and evenlv a 

 large crop of uniformly round bright red fruit. 



MatMett. Large smooth bright red fruit, with red fine-flavored 

 but not very solid flesh. 



Red Rock. A healthy productive vine, with uniformly flattened 

 globular fruit of fine flavor. 



Dtcarf Giant. Vine dwarf, but very hardy and productive of 

 large handsome bright red fruit of superior quality. 



Sterling Cattle. Vine does particularly well under glass, produ- 

 cing large crop of small uniformly round bright red fruit. 



Prince Bourghese. An Italian sort, wonderfully productive of 

 bright red, long plum-shaped fruit of fine flavor. 



Stone. Very vigorous and productive vine, with oval purplish 

 red fruit, 



Ponderom. Very large solid-fleshed fruit with small seed cavi- 

 ties, little pulp, and few seeds. 



June Pink. Early-maturing, purplish pink fruit, 



Acme. Large vigorous vines, with round purple-pink fruit. 



Beauty. Strong-growing vine, with a large flattish oval Durole 

 fruit. 



Honor Bright. Vine, although apparently unhealthy, is very 

 productive of very firm hard-fleshed fruit, which in ripening changes 

 from white to distinct yellow, then to very bright red. 



Many carefully conducted trials have shown that 

 first germination crosses will generally give a larger 

 yield of fruit than either parent. In the experience of 

 breeders, such increased yields have been in proportion 

 to the varietal distinctness and purity of stocks crossed. 



Xo distinct difference in the varietal character of 

 plants from seed of different fruits of an isolated vine 

 of pure stock has been noticed, plants from seed of the 

 first and the last ripe fruit of the same vine showing no 

 difference in earliness. Xor has any consistent differ- 

 ence been detected in size or form of fruit in plants grown 

 from seed of a small smooth and a large rough fruit from 

 the same plant. 



Although the flowers are seldom self-fertilized, it is 

 thought that they are with few exceptions pollinated 

 from those of the same plant, generally from those of 

 the same cluster and one should be guided in seed selec- 

 tion by the general character of the plant, rather than 

 by that of single fruit. When plants are grown so that 

 the branches intermingle, there would very likely be 

 crossing and it is wisest to save seed from isolated 

 plants. 



One should first form a clear-cut conception of the 

 exact varietal character desired, then carefully select 

 isolated plants which come nearest to ideal and save, 

 separately, seed from a number of fruits. A few seeds 

 from eac& lot should be grown to fruit maturity under 

 glass during the winter. It is quite possible that this 

 will reveal some lots which do not breed true; such can 

 be rejected and the best and 

 purest lots planted for seed 

 crop. 



Seed is often viable when 

 taken from fruit so green that it 

 shows but little color and plants 

 from such seed sometimes show 

 a little gain in earliness, but they 

 are weaker, less fruitful and do 

 not carry their individuality so 

 well as those from fully ripened 

 seed. Plumper, heavier seed, 

 which will retain its viability 

 much longer, is secured from fruit 

 which is fully ripe. The amount 

 to a bushel of fruit varies greatly 

 from only one to two ounces in 

 sorts like the Ponderosa to as 

 high as twelve to fourteen ounces 

 in the smaller more seedy sorts. 

 When the amount of fruit is less than a bushel and the 

 appearance of the seed is important, the best plan is to 

 spread the fruit in the sun until it is fully ripe. Cut 

 each fruit through the center, and by squeezing the 

 pulp and seed can be pressed out. Let this stand, and 

 in one to three days, depending on the ripeness of 

 the fruit and the temperature, it will separate, the 

 seed falling to the bottom. Pour off the liquid, add 

 to the seed two or three times its bulk of water, stir, 

 let settle and pour off the water and repeat with fresh 

 water until seed is clean. Spread not over three or 



v 



3820. Two forms of the 

 pear tomato. 



