The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-11-19

that OF the others; the virginia weea
has penetrated far beyond the bounds
of civilization and made conquests
where the names of the other three
plants have scarcely been heard.
| The tomato comes of family which
IS largely in the service of mankind.
1t gave us first of all the potato. The
eggplant and the cayenne or red pep
per plant-two other food producers
belong to it; the pretty race of petunias,
also the Jerusalem cherry; the climb
ing bitter-sweet and that inha bitaut of
old-fashioned gardens the matrimony
bush; the famous tobacco plant and
the herb belladOnna.o of great medicinal
Importance. Our wayside weed. the
common nightshade. whose bright ber-
ries we like to see in autumn. is also a
humble member of this family.
The tomato got no such early start
In the world rs did its homespun
cousin. the potato. To be sure. it was
carried to England in 1896, but never
thought of as being eatable then. and
was cultivated only for its ornamental
appearances and possibly for medicinal
purposes. Both there and on the con-
tinent it was known as the love-apple,
the name which it still bears in France
aud Italy. Only John Parkinson tells
US in his quaint way. rs early as 1929:
In hot countries. where they natural
ly grove. they are much eaten of the
people. TO cool and quench the heat
and thirst of their hot stomachs" Yet
it is only within fifty years that they
have come into general use.
The season of the tomato is short,
yet being essentially plant of the
tropics 1t can not be ripened often in
England. except under a glass. AS
hothousc plant. however. it is widely
used there. certain varieties develop
ing special adaptation to these condi
tionS. In the short but feryent sum-
mer of New England. on the contrary,
it finds itself quite at home. Though
the plant like many others of tropical
origin. is highly susceptible to injury
from frost, the seeds are very hardy.
sustaining no harm from remaining in
the ground throughout winters. If
left to come up of themselves. they do
so freely from such accidental plan
tings of the previous season. aud here
in Massachusetts will begin to ripen
fruit about the last of August while
plants which are started early in the
hotbed or window-box will begin near
ly a month sooner. A large field of to-
matoes in the vicinity of Boston COM
menced ripcning fruit the present sum-
mer about the 10th of July. ut which
time they brought $12 per bushel in
the market.
The fact that the tomato will ripen
fairly after plucking enables the south
ern grower TO market his crop in the
far north. 1t also allows us here to
prolong the season of the natives.
Well-grown but green fruit. picked be-
fore frost into shallow baskets or
boxes. and kept in dark. dry room,
ripens gradually for the table, and may
thus be eaten often until November or
later.
The flavor of the tomato depends
much upon the manner of culture, and
one may be as critical in the matter as |
in the flavor of II strawberry or a |
peach. On cold. heavy soils. and al
lowed 10 trail on the earth. the fruit is
watery and insipid. as we'll as infested |
with worms. Select the warmest and |
lig htcst soil possible. set the plants far
enough apart for the free access of sun
and air and provide trelis or tie |
them to stakes as fast rs growth re.
quires. Overproduction, too. if al.
lowed, will be Il distinct loss in quality |
and appearance.
Eaten raw as Il salad. stewcd. baked. |
escalloped, halvcd. and broied in |
crumbs like an oyster canned for win
ter use, or made into SOuDS catSunS !
and pickles--what other vegetable of.
fers greater or pleaSanter variety to |
the palate? 1t is certainly good |
enough to merit some pains in its cul.
tivat;on.