TOMATOES 203 



table, that it should be chosen among the very first 

 plants for the small garden. 



Kinds to Choose 



There are three important kinds of tomato, all 

 of which are desirable in the garden : the early 

 tomatoes, represented well by the Earliana strains ; 

 the general crop of red tomatoes, among which the 

 Stone has a very wide demand ; and the Dwarf Cham- 

 pion, known as a pink tomato, a medium early. 



Earliana. — There are many strains of the Earli- 

 ana tomato, widely recognized as the best tomato 

 for an early crop. It is of strong growth, resists 

 cold fairly well, and bears a very good crop of excel- 

 lent fruit. The color is bright red, the shape gen- 

 erally good, and the flavor rather acid, but pleasant. 

 It does not bear very heavily, and the tomatoes are 

 inclined to be small ; but it is worth while to have 

 some plants which ripen early. 



If you live in the northern belt of the United States, 

 this is the variety you will have to depend upon 

 for your main crop. Tomatoes are hard to ripen 

 where the nights are chilly. The very earliest 

 strains are none too hardy in the northern states, 

 where the season is short and cool. 



Stone. — The Stone tomato has a national repu- 

 tation as a variety for the general crop. It has an 

 extremely strong growth and continues bearing till 

 frost. The fruit is round and smooth, having a 



