July, 1 9 1 i 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



351 



sidered in connection with the various 

 sorts described hereafter. Their most pro- 

 nounced characteristic is their adaptabil- 

 ity to climatic conditions existing in nearly 

 all parts of the United States. This list 

 is not arbitrary. Many sorts do well in 

 sections where some or all named here 

 may prove deficient. But their usefulness 

 is limited to small areas, and for this reason 

 they could not be recommended along the 

 broader fines which this article attempts 

 to cover. 



After forming theories on this subject 

 for years, the elect few varieties have stood 

 the final test during the last few years in 

 the home garden. No one variety received 

 more coaxing or attention than the others. 

 All w r ere planted in the same fashion, 

 cultivated, staked and pruned according 

 to common methods and results were 

 carefully noted from day to day. The 

 facts and truth about each are set forth 

 in an unbiased way. The few cultural 

 hints and priming directions at the end 

 of this article should help other 

 planters to secure equally satis- 

 factory results. 



M 



THE FIVE SCARLET SORTS 



Spark's Earliana is with- 

 out question the earliest scar- 

 let tomato. The truth of this 

 statement is proven by the 

 fact that growers are giving 

 increased attention to it every 

 year and one tries to eclipse 

 the other by making selections 

 for earliness. In southern New 

 Jersey, the home of this sort, 

 plants set out early in May bear 

 fruits soon after the middle of 

 June, w T hen they reach the import- 

 ant eastern markets and command 

 fancy prices. Considering the short 

 period required for the development of 

 its fruits, Sparks' Earliana is of good size, 

 has a strong skin and thick outer walls of 

 meat, all of which make it an ideal market 

 tomato. Flesh is solid, of good color and 

 of decided acid flavor — a quality esteemed 

 by many. 



Chalk's Early Jewel is well named. 

 First fruits mature about ten days later 

 than those of Earliana, but are larger 

 and of better quality. This is the ideal 

 scarlet sort for the home garden as well 

 as for market. Its season is the longest 

 of any that I know because the crops 

 usually require four pickings in field cul- 

 ure against two or three of other sorts. 

 While in size it is almost equal to Stone, 

 the flesh is not quite so solid, hence the 

 difference in weight. Fine for slicing pur- 

 poses and a ready seller on account of its 

 beautiful, smooth skin. Milder than 

 Earliana. 



Stone, has for many years been the lead- 

 ing scarlet main crop sort and will be, until 

 Coreless (described next) becomes better 

 known. Its name is indicative of its lead- 

 ing characteristic, the extraordinary weight 

 of the average fruit. Solid flesh explains 

 why Stone is so heavy. The small seed 



cavities; the fruits deeper through from stem 

 to blossom end than most standard sorts and 

 the superior quality of the flesh combine to 

 make it the ideal late sort for many purposes 

 in all sections having long enough seasons to 

 mature a full crop. It is a safe estimate 

 that more Stone tomatoes are grown 

 throughout the country than of any other 

 half dozen sorts combined. Largely used 

 by canners too. 



Coreless. Two characteristics put this 

 variety in a class by itself. It will succeed 

 admirably in shady places and the fruits 

 are perfectly round. Fruits of Coreless 

 will furnish five slices against three slices 



This solid type of flesh is economical. Coreless 



of a Stone tomato of same weight. No 

 waste at stem or blossom-end, smooth 

 skin and solid meat make Coreless 

 tomatoes the delight of the housewife. 

 In season about the same as Stone, in 

 quality somewhat more acid than that 

 old standard. It is an almost rank grower 

 and should be pruned severely to do its 

 best. 



Dware Stone is included in this col- 

 lection for two reasons. It is the best 

 "fixed" dwarf sort with fruits of good 

 size and it is the ideal tomato for gar- 

 deners whose space is limited. By "fixed" 

 is meant that the leading characteristics 

 of plant and fruit invariably prove true 

 to the ideal of the grower. Plants are 

 of compact growth, not exceeding 3^ feet 

 in height on fair soil. They may be 

 planted 24 inches apart in the row and 

 will not crowd each other — at least the 

 productiveness of the plant is not influenced 

 by close planting. Dwarf Stone succeeds 

 nearly everywhere in this country (where 

 tomatoes are grown), and will set fruits 

 under a high temperature which causes 

 many other sorts to shed the blossoms. 



Heavy foliage and drouth resistance must 

 be responsible for this characteristic. Skin, 

 flesh and quality are beyond criticism. 



THE FIVE PURPLE VARIETIES 



June Pink is the purple brother to 

 Spark's Earliana. It is, perhaps, a little 

 deeper through from stem to blossom end, 

 but otherwise the characteristics of these 

 two are very similar. It rules the early 

 markets where purple tomatoes are pre- 

 ferred, and has many followers who prefer 

 its milder quality to the decidedly acid 

 flavor of Spark's Earliana. Character- 

 istics common to both these extra early 

 sorts are the finely laciniated foliage and 

 the open, spreading growth of plants. 

 These, as much as any other reasons, are 

 responsible, for the earliness of these two 

 kinds. The sun has full and easy access 

 to the fruits, which color evenly and 

 quickly. 



Beauty is the standard second early 

 purple sort in all sections of the country. 

 One of the handsomest tomatoes ever 

 evolved, with fruits free of blemish and 

 meat of superb, mild quality. It seems 

 permissible to compare this with Chalk's 

 Jewel among the scarlets. If there 

 were only two tomatoes to which 

 gardeners throughout the country 

 were to be limited, I would advise 

 that those two be Beauty and 

 Chalk's Jewel. Beauty is al- 

 ways of good size, has a long 

 season of bearing and yields 

 handsomely. It is dependable 

 under all circumstances and 

 makes you wish that all toma- 

 toes were Beauties. 



Globe goes Beauty one better 

 in just one instance. It is per- 

 fectly round and will furnish four 

 slices against Beauty's three. In the 

 short period of five years Globe has 

 captured the Southern planters who grow 

 it now almost exclusively for Northern 

 markets. It is a safe estimate that 

 75 per cent, of all the tomatoes reach- 

 ing us during the winter months are 

 Globe. Reasons for this are plentiful. 

 Globe plants are as nearly blight-proof as 

 years of effort on the part of the breeder 

 has been able to make a tomato plant. 

 Fruits may be picked quite green (which 

 is necessary for shipping) and will ripen up 

 uniformly to reach the market in tip top 

 condition for top notch prices. Skin and 

 outer walls of fruit are firm and thick, so 

 the fruits carry well and stand considerable 

 handling without injury. The flesh is 

 very solid and of mild, delicate flavor. 



Magnus is absolutely unique in character 

 of plant. Foliage is not cut like the 

 ordinary tomato vine, but the leaves are 

 solid, thick and bluish green. You always 

 know a Magnus tomato plant after you 

 once see it. Just why this does not 

 have the general cultivation which it 

 deserves, is a puzzle to me. In season 

 almost like Beauty, it bears slightly larger 

 fruits and just as many as any other good 

 standard sort. For training to stakes, 



