CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 45 1 



The same writer asserts that it was grown for culinary- 

 use in Virginia in 1781. A Frenchman grew and at- 

 'tempted to sell tomatoes to Philadelphians in 1788, but 

 with poor success. An Italian made a similar effort at 

 Salem, Mass., in 1802. Tomatoes were quoted in the 

 New Orleans market in 1812, and offered by seedsmen 

 as an edible vegetable in 1818. The plant gained rapidly 

 in popularity after 1820, and was a standard vegetable 

 in many sections in 1835. 



643. Classification. — Cultivated varieties of tomatoes 

 vary considerably in most of their characteristics. 

 Bailey ("The Principles of Vegetable Gardening," p. 

 401) has prepared the following classification: 



I. Lycopersicum pimpinellifolium. This class has not 

 yet varied to any extent in cultivation. The one variety 

 is known as the currant, or German raisin. 



II. Lycopersicum esculentum. The parent of all com- 

 mercial tomatoes, (a) Var. Cerasiforme. Cherry toma- 

 toes, characterized by slender growth, small, light-colored 

 leaves, and small globular fruits, normally two-celled. 

 Red and yellow varieties are known. (b) Var. 

 pyriforme. Pear and plum tomatoes, distinguished from 

 the preceding subdivision by the pear-shaped or oblong, 

 pendent fruit. Red and yellow varieties are known. Nes- 

 bit's Victoria has foliage much like that of Section d. 

 (c) Var. vulgar e. The common tomatoes, represented 

 by three main groups, viz., (i) oblong tomatoes, repre- 

 sented by King Plumbert; (2) angular tomatoes 

 (scarcely known in this country) ; and (3) apple-shaped 

 tomatoes, represented by the Peach, (d) Var. grandi- 

 flora. Large-leaf tomatoes, represented by Mikado, (e) 

 Var. validum. Upright tomato, represented by Dwarf 

 Champion. 



644. Importance. — Immense quantities of this vege- 

 table are sold on the American markets. The tomato is 

 9. standard truck crop near all of the larger towns ana 



