THE TOMATO 197 



Chemin. — Good in every respect. One of the market growers' favourites. Light 

 red. 



Comet. — This variety commands the readiest sale in London markets at the present 

 time. It is of medium size, good appearance, quality, and weight ; bright red. 



Duke of York. — A fine exhibition variety ; great cropper, but the fruit is rather 

 large for general use. 



POLEGATE. — A handsome sort much grown for exhibition. Most desirable, but 

 inclined to become too large. 



Ham Green Favourite. — A useful, dark red variety. F.C.C. R.H.S. 



Hackwood Park Prolific. — One of the earliest and best. F.C.C. R.H.S. 



Sutton's Perfection. — A well-known standard tomato. Excellent in every 

 respect; crimson colour, moderate size. F.C.C. R.H.S. 



Sutton's Dessert. — This is a deliciously flavoured tomato ; where this fruit is 

 enjoyed as dessert, Sutton's Dessert should be included. F.C.C. R.H.S. 



Yellow. — These are not so popular with the public as the red varieties, though they 

 are generally admitted to be of superior flavour, especially when uncooked. 



Veitch's Golden Jubilee. — This is one of the most handsome and best ; quality, 

 flavour, and cropping properties being excellent. Rich orange tinged sometimes with 

 red; medium size. F.C.C. R.H.S. 



Sutton's Golden Nugget. — Very prolificj the fruit produced in clusters of thirty 

 or more. Succeeds well out-of-doors or under glass. F.C.C. R.H.S. 



Greengage. — A small golden variety of good quality. 



Chiswick Peach. A distinct variety of medium size, the colour much resembling 

 that of a peach. 



TOMATO CULTURE OUT-OF-DOORS 



The cultivation of the tomato in wzxra positions on w^alls out-of-doors has 

 been successfully practised in British gardens for a number of years, but its 

 culture in the open garden and the field is still restricted. When better 

 understood, and hardier varieties have been introduced, this will open a field 

 for the development of a profitable industry. It is important to bear 

 in mind that when planted outside the tomato plant occupies the ground 

 but for a very short time, say from early June to the middle of October, 

 only some four months, so that every condition likely to favour rapid 

 growth and maturity must be taken advantage of. The first and one of 

 the most important of these is the position and quality of the land. This 

 should be warm and dry and fully exposed to the sun. It is useless to attempt 

 outdoor tomato culture in heavy, cold soil. The ground should be 

 trenched and heavily manured during the previous winter or spring. It is futile 

 to expect a heavy and well-ripened crop from poor land, and this has been one 

 of the chief causes of failure in the past. Having satisfied ourselves that the 

 condition of the land is in every way suitable, our next duty will be to see that 

 the plants are in the best possible condition for planting when the time arrives 

 for this work to be carried out (early in June). They should be sturdy, not 

 less than ij to 2 feet high, and with at least one bunch of fruit already set. 

 Cold frames or pits with a covering of glass are necessary to grow the plants. 



Preparing the Plants. — The seeds should be sown at the end of March 

 in pans or boxes and placed in a warm frame near the glass. If the grower does 

 not possess a frame or house which is artificially heated he should make a small 



