THE TREE TOMATO. 



411 



raising the instrument upward so that its end wilf pass 

 through the whole length of the little fold and out at the 

 top,, it will be found laden with the golden yellow 

 powder, if the flower is in the proper stage of maturity. 



In the case of the tomato, it is better to remove the 

 stamens of the flower we desire to pollenize before the 

 petals open, to guard against self-fertilization ; and to 

 prevent pollination from other plants, it is well to in- 

 close the flower, after removing the stamens, in a little 



sack made of soft paper. The following day, the sack 

 may be removed and the pollen applied, after which the 

 sack should be replaced. 



I would invite the readers of The American G.vrden', 

 of all ages, to make the e.\periment of crossin.g varieties 

 of the tomato. My own experience in this work has 

 de\'eloped some highly interesting facts, and others will 

 no doubt be repaid for their work. 



Universitv of Wisionsin . E. S. Goff. 



THE TREE TOMATO. 



CVPHOMANDRA BET.\CEA.^" 



fCr?;~'7;~^?*''-0^''7'i'^'2^ HE tree tomato is widely dis- 

 seminated o\ er the earth and 

 has attracted considerable at- 

 tention in tropical and subtro- 

 pical countries. Its vakie for 

 commercial forcing in our 

 northern houses is 3'et to be 

 determined. It certainly pos- 

 sesses many promising features for this purpose, 

 and is worth careful attention by those interested 

 in supplying forced products. 



The tree tomato is a native of South America, 

 where over twenty other species of the same genus 

 are known. It was long ago introduced into Ja- 

 maica, whence it has been distributed to many 

 parts of the world. It has therefore been called the 

 tree tomato of Jamaica, and under this name Peter 

 Henderson & Co., introduced it four or five years 

 ago. It is perhaps unfortunate that the name to- 

 mato should have attached to it, as it is entirely un- 

 like any tomato, and there is also a well known and 

 legitimate tree tomato in our gardens. On the 

 other hand, the fruit is used in much the same man- 

 ner as tomatoes are used, and as it is tree-like in 

 habit, the name is to a certain degree applicable. 

 In Jamaica it is known as tree tomato, and some- 

 times as vegetable mercury, from some supposed 

 medicinal virtues. In Spanish America it is known 



(*) The following names have also been applied to this plant : 

 Pionandra betacea, Miers Lond. Journ. Bot. 1S45, 35S. 

 Solannin betccemn, Cavanilles, Icon. 6, p. 15, t. 524. 

 5. crassifolium, Ortega, Dec. 9, p. 117. 

 5. obliqnum, Bertero, PI. E.\s. n. 11 25. 



as tomato de la Paz. I once grew it from seeds from 

 Peru, where it is known under the name of cliilciio 

 tomato. 



The tree is a perennial, coming into bearing the 

 second year from the seed, and continuing to bear, 

 in tropical countries, for eight or ten years, or e\-en 

 longer. The fruit is reddish and somewhat egg- 

 shaped at maturity, and attains a length of two or 

 two and a-half inches. It is eaten either raw or 

 cooked, in much the same manner as a tomato or 

 egg-fruit. The plant attains a height of ten or 

 twelve feet, and is of decidedly handsome appear- 

 ance. 



In culture it succeeds well either from seeds or 

 cuttings, demanding in house culture only a loamy 

 soil and common treatment. I have found no diffi- 

 culty in growing good specimens, by wintering un- 

 der glass, and in getting flowers in profusion : but 

 I have not obtained the fruit. The flowers would 

 uniformly fail to set. Unfortunately, I had no 

 facilities for house culture at that time, and could 

 not test them for winter fruiting. I apprehend no 

 difficulty in fruiting specimens during another 

 winter. 



In general character the plant is closely allied 

 to the egg-plant, and other large fruited solanums. 

 Nicholson, in the Dictionary of Gardening, gives 

 Solaniuii fragrans as a synonym for this cyphoman- 

 dra, and gives its origin as South Brazil. The cu 

 accompanying this (see page 409.) is adapted from 

 a recent print in Lo laniiu. 



L. H. B. 



