1891.] ESSAYS. • 119 



One of the most important garden vegetables is the Tomato, 

 and the history of its short life, well written, would read like a 

 romance. Since I was a full-grown boy 1 have found many 

 places in my journeyings where it was considered poisonous, 

 and a quarter of a century will cover its active existence. Any 

 of us can remember when the Boston Market and Keyes' Early 

 were the best; then came the Trophy, advertised as a. solid 

 tomato ; then Livingston gave us his seedlings so far in advance 

 of all others that they were almost universally grown for a 

 few years, but last year gave still others as good or a little liet- 

 ter. The tomato is conceded now to be a healthy vegetable, 

 either in its raw state or cooked ; and there are few tables on 

 which it does not appear nearly every day in the year in some 

 form. It is easy to raise and very productive. 



If one does not care to grow his own plants he can buy 

 them. There are large fortunes made every year in handling 

 tomatoes, and there is no excuse for not having the fruit I'resh 

 from one's own vines for several months, if so situated as to 

 have a garden. 



The next garden vegetable of importance is Spinach, and that 

 like the tomato has grown in favor very rapidly and has also been 

 greatly improved. It can be easily kept in the winter in-doors, 

 and lives over out of doors to cut early in the spring : or it can 

 be sowed in the open garden as soon as the frost is out of the 

 ground two inches deep, and is seldom injured by the frost. 

 It is a very wholesome vegetable, and easily prepared and 

 cooked. 



Lettuce is an appetizing salad and easily grown, and by start- 

 ing in the window can be had quite early in the season ; and 

 there are varieties that can be grown all the season. The Dea- 

 con's and Hanson are the best summer lettuce. 



Radishes, especially the turnip-rooted varieties, are easily 

 grown, grow very quickly and are a wholesome green vegetable. 



Peas are one of the earliest green vegetables and quite easily 



grown. There has been a great improvement in varieties withiil 



a few years. Henderson's Early is a very good and productive 



^smooth pea ; the best for early planting. The Stratagem is the 



