The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-10-02
THE TOMATO.
A Plant Which Helped to Revolutionize
the Food Problem of the World.

A Plant Which Helped to RevOlutionize
the Food Problem of the World.
The ripe, crimson globes of the tomato
begin to peep through its dark foliage,
suggesting visions OF such salads as are
possible only when this cool vegetable
or fruit?-assists in their connection
The tomato, a native of tropical
America, is a rare gift to man. Though
long unappreciated, the fact that no
other vegetable is now so universal in
gardens, and that on hundreds of small
places room is found for it, though de-
MED to everything else, seems 4 sut1i-
cient certificate of merit.
Three American food plants-the In
dian corn, the potato and the tomato -
have revolutionized the food problem of
the civilized world Yet another plant,
though not a food producer, might be
added to this list of new world conquer
ors, for it has had a history even more
remarkable than that of the others: the
Virginia weed has penetrated far be-
yond 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 egg
plant and the cayenne or red pepper
plant-two other food producers-be-
long to it: the pretty race of petunias,
also the Jerusalem cherry: the climbing
bitter-sweet and the inhabita of old
fashioned gardens, the matrimony bush;
the famous tobacco plant and the herb
belladonna. of great medicinal import
ance Our wavside weed. the common
nightshade, whose bright berries we
like to see in autumn, is also humble
member of this family
The tomato got no such early start in
the world as did its homespun cousin,
the potato TIE be sure, it was carried
to England in 1896, but never thought
of as being eatable then, and was cul-
tivated only for its ornamental appear
ances and possibly its medicinal pur-
poses. Both there and on the continent
it was known as the love-apple, the
name which it still bears in France and
Italy. Old John Parkinson tells us in
his quaint way as early as 1929: In hot
countries, where they naturally grove,
they are much eaten of the people, to
cool and quench the heate 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, vet
being essentially plant of the tropics
it can not be ripened often in England,
except under glass AS dollhouse
plant, however, it is widely used there,
certain varieties developing special
adaptation 70 these conditions. In the
short but fervent summer of New En-
gland, 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 paintings of the previ-
Gus season. and here i'm Massachusetts
will begin to ripen fruit about the last
of August, while plants which are
started early in the hot bed or window
box will begin nearly a month sooner.
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 before
frost into shallow baskets or boxes,
and kept in dark, dry room, ripens
gradually for the table, and may thus
be eaten 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 a strawberry or Il
peach. On cold, heavy soils, and al
lowed to trail on the earth, the fruit is
watery and insipid, as well as infested
with worms. Select the warmest and
lightest soil possible, set the plant far
enough for the free access of sun and
air, and provide a trellis, or tie them to
stakes as fast as growth requires. Over
production, too, if allowed, will be
distinct loss in quality and appearance.
Fate n raw, as a salad, stewed, baked,
escalloped. halved and boiled in crumbs
like an oyster. canned for winter use, or
made into soups. catSupS and pickles.
what other vegeta bic offers a greater
or pleasanter variety to the palate? 1t
is certainly good enough to merit some
pains in its cultivation. - Boston Tran
ScrlDt