The Bossier banner., 1891-12-03
THETOMATo.
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 concoction.
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 a sufi-
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 history even more
remarkable than that of the others; the
Virginia weed has penetrated far be-
yond the bounds of civilization and
made conqucsts where the names of the
other three plants have scarcely been
heard.
The tomato comes of a 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 inhabitant of old
fashioned gardens, the matrimony bushi
the famous tobacco plant and the herb
belladonna, of great medicinal import
ance Our wayside weed, the common
nightshade, whose bright berries we
like to see in autumn, is also a 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 it's 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: I'm 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, yet
being essentially plant of the tropics
it can not be ripcned often in England,
except under glass. AS a hothouse
| 70 ,,ea5 Abaro
certain varietieS developing special
adaptation to tbrse conditions. Ia the
short but fervent summer of New En-.
gland, on the contrary, it finds itseli
quite at home. Though the plant, sike
many others of tropical origin, is highly
susceptible to injury from frost, the
seeds are very hardy, sustaining nc
harm from remaining in the ground
throughout winters. If left to come W
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 las
of August, while plants which are
started early in the hot bed or window
box will begin nearly n month sooner
The fact that the tomato will ripper
fairly after plucking enables the south
ern grower to market his crop in thu
far north. 1t also allows US here tx
prolong the season of the natives. Well
grown but green fruit, picked befor'
frost into shallow baskets or boxes
and kept in dark, dry room, ripen
gradually for the table, and may thu
be eaten until November or later.
The flavor of the tomato depends
much upon the manner of culture, an
one may be as critical in the matter a
in the flavor of strawberry or
peach. On cold, heavy soils, and al
lowed to trail on the earth, the fruit i
watery and insipid, as well as infeste
with worms. Select the warmest an
lightest soil possible, set the plant ia
enough for the free access of sun an
air, and provide trellis, or tie them t
stakes as fast as growth requires. Over
production, too if allowed, will be
distinct loss in quality and appearances
Eaten raw, as salad, stewed, baked
escalloped, halved and boiled in crumb
like an oyster, canned for winter use, c
made into soups, catsups and pickles
what other vegetable offers create
or pleasanter variety to the palate?
is certainly good enough to merit som
pains in its cultivation. - Boston Tral
script