38 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



spotted by the growth of fungi, the crop of fruit is sure to be 

 affected. 



The fruit is a true berry, a fleshy fruit with the seeds em- 

 bedded in a pulpy mass as in a grape or currant. The seeds are 

 numerous and small. There are many varieties of the tomato, 

 differing especially in the arrangement, size, shape, and color of 

 the fruit. These niunerous varieties that have been produced 

 by breeding in cultivation can be reduced to five botanical types 

 or groups, although it has been estimated that seedsmen offer as 

 many as 175 so-called varieties. 



In order that the fruit may set well, the flowers must be well 

 polUnated. Out of doors no assistance is necessary, but in green- 

 houses jarring the plants or other means of artiflcially trans- 

 ferring the pollen is required. The flowers are usually self-polli- 

 nated and there is not much tendency for varieties to cross even if 

 grown close together. The flowers are perfect; the corolla is 

 wheel-shaped and five- or six-parted. 



1. What are some of the near relatives of the tomato? 



2. How can you explain the fact that the tomato is " tender "? 



3. How does transplanting tend to increase the vigor of young 



plants? 



4. Can you tell by the leaves whether a plant is healthy and vig- 



orous? 



6. What kind of fruit is the tomato? 



6. How many botanical types of tomatoes are there? How many 



varieties? 



7. What is pollination? What kind occurs in the tomato flowers? 



