CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
451 
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. Lycopcrsicum pimpinellifoliuni. This class has not 
yet varied to any extent in cultivation. The one variety 
is known as the currant, or German raisin. 
II. Lycopcrsicum 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., (1) oblong tomatoes, repre- 
sented by King Humbert; (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 
a standard truck crop near all of the larger towns ana 
