August 1, 1S96. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
768 
THE NEW STRAWBERRY. 
“STEVEN’S WONDER.” 
THE EARLIEST VARIETY IN CULTIVATION. 
STRONG PI-ANTS in Pots, 50/- per 100; 7/6 per dozen. STRONG RUNNERS, 30/- 
per 100 ; 4/6 per dozen. 
m- READY FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION ; ALSO ALL OTHER LEADING 
VARIETIES IN FINE STRONG PLANTS. 
WM. CUTBUSH & SON, 
Highgate Nurseries, London, N., and 
Barnet, Herts. 
RETARDED 
LILY OF THE VALLEY CROWNS. 
(1895 CROP). 
Can easily be had in bloom in 2-3 weeks ; no heat 
required ; will open their fragrant blooms anywhere 
—in a room, conservatory, frame, or out of doors. 
For prices, apply to 
T. JANNOCH, 
Lily Nursery, DERSINGHAM, NORFOLK. 
LAI NGS’ BEGONIAS 
NOW IN FULL BLOOM. 
“ The Premier House.” Awarded 12 Gold Medals. 
Unequalled as a Floral Display. Visitors are cordially 
invited ; free admiition. Frequent trains from the City and 
West End to Catford, (L.C. & D.R.), Catford Bridge, (S.E.R.) 
1896 Descriptive Catalogue post free. Telephone 9660. 
JOHN LAING & SON'S, 
Begonia, Caladi-um, Clivia. and Gloxinia Specialists, Seed, 
Plant, and Bulb Merchants, Rose, Vine and Fruit Tree, 
&c., Growers. 
FOREST HILL, S.E., AND CATFORD, KENT. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM GUIDE 
and 
CHRYSANTHEMUM ALBUM. 
I have a few of these valuable works left and will send a 
copy of each, post free, for 2s., or separately, The Guide 8 
stamps, The Album 18 stamps. 
Both are invaluable to Chrysanthemum Growers. 
H. J. JONES, 
Ryecroft Nursery, Lewisham. 
W E B B S’ 
EMPEROR 
CABBAGE. 
The Earliest and Best. 
6d- and Is. per Packet. 
IS- 6d. per Ounce. 
From Mr. E. BARKER, Loughborough. 
“ Webbs' Emperor Cabbage was highly recommended to 
me. I tried it with very satisfactory results, taking First 
Prize against 34 competitors.” 
Per Ouuce 
EARLY NONPAREIL 
CABBAGE 
8 d- 
ENFIELD MARKET 
do. 
6 d- 
EARLY RAINHAM 
do. 
.. 8d. 
RED DUTCH 
do. 
.. 9d. 
ONION. 
Per Pkt. Per Oz 
WEBBS’ RED GLOBE TRIPOLI 6d- Is. 6d 
LARGE FLAT RED TRIPOLI 6d. ... lOd 
GIANT ROCCA. 6d ... lOd 
WHITE LISBON . ... 6d 
All Garden Seeds Free by Post or Rail. 
Seedsmen by Royal Warrants to H.M. the Queen 
and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. 
WORDSLEY, STOURBRIDGE. 
Mr. W. M. Munson, horticulturist to the 
Maine State College Agricultural Experi¬ 
ment Station, Orono, Maine, in a paper 
read before the Massachusetts Horticultural 
Society says that, “ Next to the Potato, the 
Tomato stands, perhaps, at the head of the 
list of garden vegetables in commercial 
importance.” He also says that 12,000 
acres are devoted to this crop in Maryland 
alone. This is explained by the fact that 
immense quantities are grown for the 
canning factories— an industry that does 
not exist in this country, or only to a very 
small extent. In reference to the history of 
Tomalos, the author says that all the 
garden varieties of Tomatos belong to 
Lycopersicum pimpinellifolium and L. 
esculentum. The first named is the 
Currant Tomato, in this country known as 
L. racemigerum. Nor does Mr. Munson 
take any account of L. pyriforme, the pear- 
shaped Tomato, occasionly seen in collec¬ 
tions of Tomatos in this country. Altogether 
there are sixteen species recorded, whether 
really distinct or otherwise. L. esculentum 
is the common species, a native of Peru, 
but found growing spontaneously or really 
indigenous to Mexico, and as far north as 
Texas and California in the small form 
known as the Cherry, and which is regarded 
as the wild original of all the cultivated 
varieties, having large or moderately large 
fruits. The latter are very liable to varia¬ 
tion when subjected to cross-breeding, 
cultivation, and selection. The variation 
consists chiefly in form, size, and colour of 
the fruits, and the two former characteris¬ 
tics are governed mainly by the number of 
cells in a fruit. The wild or Cherry form 
has two-celled berries, but the Large Red 
variety, still to some extent cultivated, 
possesses a large number of cells, represent¬ 
ing so many carpels in its composition. 
The ribbed or corrugated character of these 
large but otherwise unimproved fruits is 
due to the incomplete amalgamation of the 
component carpels. 
Mr. Munson does not think that the 
Tomato has reached its ultimate limit of 
profitable variation, in New England, at 
least. A very desirable type is one that 
would naturally reach maturity in the 
shortest possible time,, so that outdoor 
fruits might ripen before the advent of frost 
or cold weather puts a stop to growth. In 
the way of innovation, the most important 
achievement at the experiment station has 
been the production of a hybrid, intermediate 
in character between Lorillard and Lyco¬ 
persicum pimpinellifolium, which were the 
parents used, the first-named being the 
seed-bearer. The form and general aspect 
of the leaves are similar to those of the 
pollen parent, while the fruits are as large 
as those of Lorillard. This would indicate 
that the two are very closely allied, seeing 
that they intercross so readily with one 
another. The next question is whether the 
progeny is equally fertile as the parents, 
and whether capable of improvement. Mr. 
Munson has been intercrossing the progeny 
with either parent, and says that the result¬ 
ing seedlings retain distinct evidences of the 
original male parent. The object of this 
hybridising and intercrossing was to secure 
the earliness and fertility of the Currant 
Tomato, but the experiment is not yet con¬ 
cluded. Another great desideratum in 
America is to get a yellow variety with a 
distinctly blush cheek. Surely this must 
be on the score of decorative value. In 
Blenheim orange, we have a yellow variety 
with an orange cheek, but a really blush 
cheek would surely be a strange compliment 
to a yellow Tomato. Tersely put, Mr. 
Munson’s notion of an ideal Tomato, is that 
it should be “of medium size, firm texture, 
rich colour, perfectly smooth, early and 
prolific.” Such a Tomato does not exist at 
THE BEST CABBAGE 
For Present Sowing is 
Daniels’ Defiance. 
A magnificent variety, growing to the weight of from 
10 to 20 pounds. Remarkably early, short legged, 
and compact, and of the most delicious marrow 
flavour. Invaluable for the Market Gardener or the 
private grower. Our own grand selected stock. 
Per oz., Is. 6d.; per packet, 6d. 
Daniels’ Defiance Cabbage. 
ONION— DANIELS’ GOLDEN ROGCA. 
Fine globular shape, golden yellow skin, mild 
flavour, and with careful cultivation comes equal to 
the imported Portugal Onions, and keeps sound till 
June. This variety is the best exhibition kind 
known, and has obtained more prizes than any 
other Onion. If sown in Autumn, and kept under 
first-class cultivation, will grow bulbs two to three 
pounds each. 
Per oz., Is. 6d.; per packet, 6d. 
DANIELS BROTHERS, 
Seed Growers and Nurserymen, 
NORWICH. 
For Index to Contents see page 774. 
" Gardening is the purest of human pleasures, and the greatest 
refreshment to the spirit of man "—Bacon. 
tjWffljilt]} 
Edited by J. FRASER F.L.S. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST i st, 1896. 
NEXT WEEK’S ENGAGEMENTS. 
Monday, August 3rd.—Closing day of the show promoted by 
the R.H.S. of Southampton, Beddington, Mansfield, and 
Northampton Shows. 
Tuesday, August 4th.—Northampton and Leicester Shows. 
Wednesday, August 5th— Royal Botanic Society’s Prome¬ 
nade, Shows at Chester, Chesterfield, and Forest Hill. 
Thursday, August 6th.—Shows at Chester, Forest Hill, N. 
Petterton, Welshpool, and Grimsby. 
Friday, August 7th.—Shows at Grimsby and Driffield. 
Sales of Bulbs and Orchids by Messrs. Protheroe & 
Morris at 67 and 68, Cheapside, E.C. 
^Tomatos.—T here is every appearance that 
i:he cultivation of Tomatos is still on the 
increase on both sides of the Atlantic. This 
may be determined by the increasing quan¬ 
tities that are grown, and the attention that 
is given to the science of the subject. The 
old prejudices that existed with regard to 
their wholesomeness as human food, are 
dying out, though they took a long time to 
surmount, as in the case of the Potato. 
There may be some who take exception to 
their importance, compared with other kinds 
of garden produce ; but abundant as they are 
in this country, Tomatos are even more 
extensively grown in the United States. 
