488 THE SURVIVAL OP THE UNLIKE. [XXX. 



Solidity of fruit cannot be accurately measured 

 either by weight or keeping qualities. 



Cooking qualities appear to be largely individual 

 rather than varietal characteristics. 



Keeping qualities are most marked in the small 

 and unimproved kinds. In the large tomatoes these 

 qualities are widely variable within the same variety, 

 and it is evident that they are comparatively unde- 

 veloped as a varietal character. 



It is questionable if much farther advance in total 

 productiveness is to be gained by producing larger 

 fruits, for the mammoth varieties may give actually 

 less weight of crop than medium -sized kinds. In- 

 crease in the number of fruits of large varieties is 

 usually associated with decrease of size. The greatest 

 increase in productiveness must come probably from 

 increase of vigor and stature of plant, with cor- 

 responding increase in fruitfulness. It is noticeable 

 that the angular sorts, which were so largely cultivated 

 a few years ago, are small in stature as compared 

 with our best sorts. The ratio of productiveness to 

 weight of plant was determined for one hundred and 

 seventy -two varieties in 1887. The six best ratios 

 occurred in Island Beauty ( resembling Trophy ) , 

 Hundred Day, King Humbert, Large Red, Yellow 

 Cherry, and Mikado. It will be seen, therefore, that 

 the Cherry tomatoes give as good, or better, ratios 

 of productiveness as the best varieties, and that 

 cultivation has not increased productiveness equally 

 with size of fruit. But if the ratio of productiveness 

 to weight of plant is not increased, increase in sizef 

 or robustness of plant will give an actual increase 

 of crop per acre, for it is found that the light and 



