Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-03-26
Var,e,,.. os Toms,oe.

The cause Of failure In ripening tomatoes
is often that the plants grown are a late or
worthless variety. A large number Of varie-
ties have been tested at the New York exper-
iment station, and many kinds that are still
recommended by seedsmen are condemned as
not worthy of culture. Read the list below
and see IL you are not cultivating one Of the
poorer sorts.
When the tomato was first known to our
gardens 1t was a rough, ribbed fruit. 1t has
been improved until now we think that most
people will agree that it's smooth and regular
form, together with the size at least medium,
are most important characters, and that this,
together with esrliness enter into our judg.
ment of what constitutes merit. The slight
fTsrences in color and flavor that appear in
the numerous red varieties are, so far as fam
lily use is concerned, of but secondary i'm
portance, and we rarely find variety 80 un-
prolific as to be condemned as not yielding a
sufficient quantity for domestic supply.
In the station garden we have grown near
ly all the varieties as purchased from seeds
men, and we are led to wonder why so many
undesirable kinds are retained, as it surely
costs no more to grow the fruit Of the best
than of the poorer sorts. We therefore as
sort our varieties as grown at the station, in
to two lists, the first Of which includes those
which possess sufficient merit to make them
worthy Of cultivation the second list in
cludes those which might as well in the fu-
ture be dropped from consideration.
The Cardinal, a so called new variety, pro-
ducing large bright, scarlet fruit, which is
usually nearly or quite smooth, but quite late
in ripening
The Favorite (Livingstou's Favortp), we
have hitherto recommended. 1t is medium
! Al.
fault
The New Red Apple yields medium to
large, very smooth fruits, which matured
this season earlier than either of the above
! sorts.
The Perfection CLivington's Perfection)
produces medium to large, very deep red
fruits, usually smooth, but often rough at the
blossom end. In season about the same as
the Favorite.
The Paragon yields very smooth, medium
to sma scarlet fruits which commenced ri.
peniug this year five days before the Favor
tie or Perfection.
The Red Chief yields bright scarlet fruits
of medium size, usually smooth in season
medium.
The Rochester yields fruit of the largest size,
Of deep red color rather smooth upon the
whole, although often rough about the stems.
A late variety.
Tilden's New yields bright scarlet, small to
medium fruits, usually very smooth.
The Acme, though faultess in form, has
the fault of rotting badly in sections where
| tomatoes are subject to this disease. It's
earliness, together with the remarkable
smoothness of it's fruits, will doubtless retain
for it many friends. We are growing two
sorts which are the same as the Acme the
one, Essex Early Hybrid, the other varie.
ty the 9 .ds of which were sajd to us to have
come from South America.
The Early Red Smooth, with US, seems to
be the same as the L ry Extra Red, aud the
Early Round Red Smooth. 1t has the merit
Of earliness, smOOthness of fruit, aud little
tendency to rot. We rank this rs one of the
most desirable of Iorts.
The MayAower we have already recon
mended. This variety, however still has
the tendency to produce small fruits which
we hope may disappear after little Longer
selection. 1t IL early, but with US has not
sustained its reputation ~ being one of the
first earies.
The Boston Market produces medium ia
small fruits, usually very smooth, but only
medium in season.
The Alpha is very early variety, yielding
fruit of medium size, quite smooth, but Otter
inclining to roughness
The Trophy bears fruit which varies mucl
III big bOluttlIucb 81 bulhll Us " Dt hlulOh
worthless, at others very large. In shape al
so it is quite variable sometimes being VERY
rough III season intermediate.
The Yellow Visitor aud Golden Trophy ar,
Of good sz1, fairly smooth, and are usetu
va istes to those who desire yellow tom Alto
Besides these standard varieties, there ar,
several sorts which, though possessing little
value for the table, have a certain value t
the amateur h curlosities. Among these the
Ape, Pear, Cherry, Plum and Currant to
matoes.
The list that we offer OF varieties that pos
sess so few good qualities as to make then
, unworthy of cultivation where better varie
ties are to be had, is as follows:
President Garfield which appears to b
identical with the long since abaudone,
Great Chihuahua, is utterly worthless will
t US, for although the fruits are very large the
D are so late as to ripen only in favorable sea
, sons, and 80 rough az to be of no value, evel
! when ripe.
The Arlington, Feegee Island, New Japan
ese, OranRefeld, Reads Island Beauty Re
Valencia Cluster and Howard have little t
commend them as grown in the station gar
, den
The Large Yellow Improved Llrge Yello'
New York Market Precursor. Queen, Cor
9 queror, Early York, Gen. Grant, Hub bard
0 Curled Leaf Hundred Day, Lymau's Mau
moth Cluster, Powelps Triumph. La 'ge Red
4 Large Red Smooth Round, Railways Exec
sor, Little Gem, Canada Victor. Blount
Champion Cluster, and Cooks Favorite a
J. possess some merit, but since we have so ms
ny better varieties we do not regard them a
It worthy OF culture.
g The public will understand that these note
It represent the experiences, az gained in h
l. station garden, of seeds purchased under III
e names given, from various sedsmen, but "
d have reason to believe that the seed was tru
{ to name, and represented the variety Offered
8 LEWIS STURTEvANT, Director
J. The Bees In Early Spring.