SOME NOTES ON TOMATOES. 141 



is equal to that of Lorillard. The blossoms though larger, were 

 ■of the type of Currant and the fruit is borne on long racemes, 

 very similar to those of the male parent. The individual fruits, 

 however, were fully four times the size of Currant. The object 

 in view in this work has been to combine the earliuess and the 

 productive qualities of Currant, with the size and vigor of the 

 common type. To this end, crosses have been made between the 

 hybrid already mentioned and the female parent, Lorillard, and 

 again between this cross and the same parent. The results are 

 in every way encouraging, but the end is not yet. The crosses 

 still retain the distinct evidences of the influence of the original 

 male parent, but are gradually increasing in size and now fre- 

 quently show a more or less angular form, as found in the com- 

 mon type. 



Many attempts have been made to secure a yellow tomato with 

 a distinctly blush cheek ; but as a rule no satisfactory results have 

 been obtained. One variety has been sent out as "Lemon Blush" 

 but in our own experience the blush has never appeared. 



"We have repeatedly made crosses between the red and the 

 yellow varieties, but in every instance red fruits have resulted. 

 At the present time, however, we have under observation a 

 selection from Golden Queen, which is very promising. From our 

 studies of this strain, I am convinced that the desired type may 

 be produced more easily in a southern climate or under glass, than 

 is possible under field culture in our latitude. The same plants 

 produce much more highly colored fruit in February and March 

 than in December or January, while cuttings from plants which 

 bear well-colored fruit in the forcing-house, as a rule yield less 

 highly colored fruit when grown iu the field. It is hoped by 

 continued care in selection to fix the type. 



There is little doubt that varieties or strains, " run out," or lose 

 their distinguishing characteristics. This variation in type may 

 and often does, occur very early in the life of any given variety, 

 but with careful selection on the part of the grower, a type ma}' 

 be preserved for many years. It must not be understood, 

 however, that " running out" necessarily implies deterioration, for 

 such is not the case. A type may lose its distinguishing charac- 

 teristics by reason of improvement, as well as from neglect or 

 other causes tending to deterioration. 



