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Italy was the first of the European countries to use it as a vegetable, but 

 was soon followed by France and England, though as the climate of the 

 latter country is not favorable for its outdoor culture, it is grown chiefly 

 under glass. 



As late as about fifty years ago there were only four varieties cultivated 

 in the United States, viz.: two with cherry-like fruit, one red, the other 

 yellow, and two with small pear-shaped fruits of similar colors. Most of 

 the luscious varieties which now grace our tables are introductions of quite 

 recent date, and there still remain examples of the unreasonable prejudice, 

 which for so many years retarded the improvement and general use of the 

 tomato. 



At first the fruit was only eaten generally after having been pickled or 

 preserved, but it has gradually risen in public estimation, till at the present 

 time it has such considerable importance, not only for use in the raw state, 

 but for canning, catsups, etc., that many thousands of acres are devoted to 

 its culture. 



The tomato is so peculiarly adapted to growth in California that on 

 many of the foothill slopes of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara 

 Counties, it has become naturalized, and acres of them may be seen grow- 

 ing luxuriantly, though the plants receive no culture, and frequently no 

 water, except through the atmosphere, from the germination of the seed 

 till their death. Though these wild plants retain their vigor and size, the 

 fruits have all returned to the original cherry forms, retaining, however, a 

 most luscious flavor. 



Tomato culture has not received the attention in California that its im- 

 portance merits, and in consequence our store shelves are loaded down with 

 eastern canned and bottled goods, while good fresh tomatoes frequently 

 come so high in our retail markets that many are debarred from using 

 them. 



The type of tomato at present sought after grows on a stout bushy plant, 

 which ripens early an abundance of medium sized, bright red, purplish, or 

 yellow fruit, with small seeds, thin smooth skin, and symmetrical outline. 

 As no material advancement has been made in varieties for several years, 

 it has been thought that perfection had been reached, but this is doubtful. 



The seed should be saved only from the finest specimens, growing on 

 vines of good habit, and which have produced only fruit of regular size 

 and symmetrical outline. Great care should be taken to keep the seed in 

 a perfectly dry place, as they are very susceptible to moisture. After the 

 seeds have gone through the winter season in the wild state, I have calcu- 

 lated that only one in two thousand germinates, while under cultivation at 

 least 85 per cent would grow. 



The seeds may be planted almost any time during the winter or early 

 spring, in prepared sheltered beds or frames, according to the locality. 

 Scatter them broadcast, cover lightly, and keep the soil moist, not wet. 

 When the second leaves develop pick off the plants into shallow flats, with 

 room for fifty or one hundred plants in each. These can readily be carried 

 and distributed about the field when ready for planting. The varieties 

 most generally grown in California are the Trophy, Early Conqueror, and 

 Livingstone's varieties: Perfection, Favorite, and Beauty. 



The ground should be thoroughly prepared, flat or ridged, with sufficient 

 room allowed for horse cultivation. It should not be too rich, or vines will 

 be produced at the sacrifice of the fruit. I have been the most successful 

 when settling the plants firmly with water in the evening or on cloudy 

 days, and have had the best success when planting was done on the sides 

 of double furrowed ridges. 



