SOME NOTES ON TOMATOES. 139 



other words, the modern large fruited and irregular sorts have 

 been developed first by the augmentation of cells in the primitive 

 type, and later by the modification of the flower, and the produc- 

 tion of an abnormal number of parts. 



The direction of variation and order of development suggested 

 by Bailey^ seem most natural. Starting with the Cherry tomato 

 and adopting, slightly modified, Bailey's expression of the evolu- 

 tion of forms we have : 



Pear-shaped and oblong sorts, — King Humbert, Nis- 



bett's Victoria, etc. 

 Angular sorts, — Orangefield, Hundred Day, etc. 

 Yelloiv apple-shaped soi'ts, — Green Gage, White 

 €herry : ( Apple, etc. 



Large red sorts, — Little Gem, 

 The Cook's Favorite, and 

 thence to Paragon, etc. 



( a. Graudifolium, — Mikado, Potato Leaf, etc. 

 ( b. Validum, — Tree Tomato. 



The history of the introduction of our common sorts is, no 

 doubt, familiar to most of you. The old Large Red of the 

 earlier catalogues was followed in 1862 by Fiji Island, and in 

 1864 by The Cook's Favorite. In 1866 Tilden appeared and 

 then in rapid succession Maupay, Keyes's Extra Early, Boston 

 Market, General Grant, Trophy, and Paragon. 



Paragon was a marked step in advance over all former intro- 

 ductions. It was really the first of the round or apple shaped 

 varieties to attain prominence, and gave a great impetus to the 

 •culture of the tomato as a field crop. It was a triumph for the 

 application of correct principles of selection, for, in the produc- 

 tion of this variety, the habit of a whole plant rather than the 

 character of an individual fruit was considered. 



In 1880 Perfection appeared and during the ten j^ears following. 

 Favorite, Beauty, Dwarf Champion, Lorillard, Ignotum, and a 

 host of less worthy sorts have followed, until it would seem that 

 the limit of profitable variation may have been reached. 



iCf . Bailey, Bui. 31, Mich. Agr'l College, 6. 



