442 GARDEN FARMING 



Varieties. There are a large number of sorts of tomatoes, each 

 one possessing some points of merit which distinguish it from all 

 others. These distinguishing characteristics enable the intelligent 

 cultivator to select sorts for special purposes and for special soils 

 and climates. The varying demands of the markets, and the differ- 

 ent soil and climatic conditions of the various sections of the United 

 States where the tomato is grown, can only be satisfied by a list as 

 variable as are the conditions. It is fortunate that domesticated 

 plants present so many different forms, otherwise the cultivation 

 of many crops would be restricted to a few favored localities. 



Important differences in the varieties of tomato are manifested 

 chiefly in the fruit. Early ripening sorts are frequently irregular 

 in shape, have comparatively thin walls, large seed cavities, and 

 numerous seeds. The fruit is apt to color and ripen unevenly, re- 

 maining green around the stem or containing a hard green core. 

 Later ripening sorts, while not all superior to the above, have as 

 a rule thicker and firmer walls, smaller seed cavities, and few seeds. 

 The most highly developed varieties now make few seeds and ripen 

 evenly. These characteristics of the fruit are important factors 

 in determining their fitness for special purposes. Medium-sized, 

 smooth, spherical fruits, which ripen evenly and have small seed 

 cavities and thick walls, are especially suited to long-distance ship- 

 ment. These qualities should enter into every variety to the great- 

 est possible degree consistent with earliness, lateness, heavy yield, 

 or any other special quality which gives the variety a marked 

 commercial advantage. 



The following list of varieties is made up of sorts possessing 

 some markedly distinct characteristic, such as early maturity ; great 

 size ; purple, red, or yellow color ; dwarf habit ; etc. 



1 . Early ripening : Sparks's Earliana, Atlantic Prize, Early Freedom. 



2. Large fruited : Ponderosa (or Beefsteak). 



3. Purple fruits: Beauty, Acme, Imperial. 



4. Red fruits : Favorite (late), Honor Bright, Matchless, Stone, Trophy, 



Royal Red, New Jersey. 



5. Yellow fruited : Golden Queen, Lemon Blush. 



6. Dwarf (or tree) type : Dwarf Champion, Station Upright tree, Aristocrat. 



7. Potato-leaf type : Livingston's Potato Leaf, Mikado, Turner's Hybrid, 



