[Illustration: Criterion tomato]
The last number of the CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST contains a list of what
are described as the “four best sorts” of Tomatoes. Permit me to
recommend three others to the notice of your readers, the Hathaway, the
Acme, and last, but not worst, the Criterion.
The last named I have grown for the first time during the past season,
and have been much pleased with it. It is plum shaped, and rather small,
but of a delicate flavor and pleasing appearance, and is a most prolific
bearer. Its color is red and yellow, and in many instances it is very
prettily mottled. At our last horticultural exhibition it attracted much
attention, and obtained a first prize. I enclose a water-color sketch of
one of an average size, many are larger and some smaller.
While writing about tomatoes, I may mention that in our neighborhood we
have been much plagued by an immense number of the larvæ of the
Five-spotted Sphinx, _S. quinquemaculatus_, during the past summer. The
caterpillars are commonly called “Tomato Worms,” and are vulgarly
supposed to be poisonous; I need scarcely add that the latter imputation
is altogether foundationless. Like many other larvæ, they eject, when
handled, a drop of liquid from their mouths, but this is quite
innocuous. I killed about one hundred of these caterpillars in my own
small garden, a number which, if left to their own wicked wills, would
speedily have utterly defoliated the whole of my stock of plants.
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The above engraving of the Criterion Tomato has been prepared from the
water-color sketch of Mr. Clementi, and will enable our readers to form
a just conception of its size and general appearance.
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