THE GARDEN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5178, 9 November 1895, Page 2

THE GARDEN.

QUALITY IN TOMATOES. 1 believe the old rough red tomato to be superior, both in quantity and quality, to most of the now existing sorts. In tomatoes, as in potatoes, we have paid far too heavy a penalty for a smooth skin and even face. Doubtless the abolition of eyes, as well as of wrinkles, had its merits, and was worth something. But when quality and productiveness disappear in the race aftei a smooth face and a perfect form, then assuredly thogarao is not worth a candle. And this is very much what has happened in such kinds as international, Hathaway's, and other tomotaes. . . . It seems a pity to have (travelled so far in search of outward beauty to so little purpose. Even had the modern form been equal in quality to the old rough red thore is mostly a falling off in tho gross yield of from 25 per cent, to 75 per cent.' This is an enormous loss, and as profits go now, aruinous price to. pay for inero smoothness of snrfaco and beauty of form in products in whichsuch qualities are of little moment. Even socalled mild or sweet tomatoes are by no means the best forcooking purposes , or for consuming raw by those who have acquired the tomato taste. Possibly, too, those who suffer from indigestion, and have turned to the tomato for relief, derive more benefit from the rougher and more acid varieties than from the softer, milder and so-called sweeter sorts. There is also less rind on the rough red than on most of tho smoother aud moro shapely varieties. Tho thickskinned varieties, while favourable for keeping and travelling, form very harsh eating, and aro a serious drawback to easy digestion. Nor is the firmness of flesh in many of the more novel Tarieties all gain, The sparkling juice of the rough red is more valuable than the firm, almost cbeeseliko flesh of some of the others. For these and other reasons, and, above all, for its gross weight, doubling or trebling most others, and its good, sound quality for all purposes, I still commend the old rough red.—From Cottage Gardening for September.