34 NOTES ON TOMATO BREEDING 



Minnesota. While below the average in size, as shown is Nos. 

 48, 46, and 49, respectively, in the photograph, they are 

 smooth, uniform, productive, and very desirable for home use, 

 if not for the market. 



8. Varieties 22, Red Peach, 52, Clustered Small Red, and 

 54, Clustered Large Red, are simply novelties, and of compar- 

 atively little use except for preserving and pickling. 



II. NOTES ON TOMATO BREBDING 



BY F. WM. RANE 



There is probably no plant we have so much literature upon, 

 and that has been studied so thoroughly from the standpoint of 

 plant-breeding, as the tomato. This is doubtless due to the 

 fact that it is easily grown, commonly used, and offers excep- 

 tionally good opportunity for study. 



The tomato plant is quickly susceptible to careful selection, 

 and it is bv this that value is given to cross results, whether 

 natural or mechanical. 



In selecting tomato seed it has been demonstrated that the 

 plant as a whole has more hereditary influence than the char- 

 acter of the individual fruit. 



Repeated experiments have shown that nothing is gained by 

 selecting seeds from first ripe fruit, regardless of the character 

 of the plant from which they come. 



When new varieties are desired through crossing, the fore- 

 going applies equally to each parent. The more uniform and 

 persistent the parent, the greater is the chance that its charac- 

 teristics will be transmitted. 



When the desired variety is once realized, it is kept only by 

 constant attention to selection. It is doubtless chiefly due to 



