1871.] REPORT ON VEGETABLES. 49 



The State Lunatic Hospital also deserves honorable mention for 

 their large and valuable collection of vegetables and their excellent 

 tomatoes.* 



The entries of Potatoes were larger in number and comprised a 

 greater variety tlian any previous year. Many of these entries were 

 of unusual excellence. Some of the varieties however which contrib- 

 uted to the making up of individual entries were not such as potato 

 growers would recommend for cultivation. Nor were the specimens of 

 many of these varieties such as to reflect credit upon those exhibiting 

 them. Inasmuch as the really valuable varieties might be narrowed 

 down to a dozen or lifteen, the Committee would respectfully recom- 

 mend that in making the premium list for the next annual exhibition, 

 the varieties for the largest and best collection of potatoes should be 

 limited so as not to exceed about that number. 



The display of Tomatoes in both the general collections and the 

 entries for special premiums were unusually fine. The display for 

 special premiums embracing twenty-seven different varieties. The 

 history of this vegetable as regards its rapid and wonderful growth 

 in public favor is somewhat remarkable. Prior to the year 1830 

 it was hardly recognized as an eatable plant. If cultivated at all 

 it was rather for ornament than use, and was known as the "love 

 apple, " or " golden apple, " names which it still retains in France and 

 Italy. To-day in the United States especially, it has become an 

 almost universal article of diet, and though belonging to the same 

 order as some of the most noxious of plants, as the deadly nightshade, 

 it is regarded by the faculty as one of the most wholesome of escu- 

 lents. It is said that a species called the Humboldt and thought to be 

 a perennial was introduced into Europe some years since, but it does 

 not seem as yet to have made its way into this country. The qualities 

 most to be desired in seeking improved varieties are earliness, produc- 

 tiveness, freedom from a tendency to decay, solidity or thick meated- 

 ness (though on this point tastes differ, some preferring a medium 

 thickness of meat) and evenness in ripening. Several varieties have 

 more or less of these qualities. For earliness the Wilcott can hardly 

 be excelled and it is also very productive. The Trophy is solid, large 



* In justice to the State Lunatic Hospital it should be said that owing to a misunder- 

 standing, the Committee did not learn that this Institution was on the list of competi- 

 tors until after the award of premiums. 



