Show March 16 1994 Once Shunned As Being Poisonous Tomato Now A Favored Vegetable By James E Walters 1£S cal (Latin) name is Lycopersicum esculentum which translates as edible wolf peach Varieties known to produce large tomatoes include Burpee's Delicious Park's Whopper Giant Belgium German Johnson Brandywine Dinner Plate Dutchman Beefmaoter and German Head However most large tomatoes seldom come in at more than a pound and a half Gardeners have three seasons — until the end of 1995 — to eclipse the record If there is no winner the money is promised to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund Gordon Graham of Edmond Okla holds the fertilizer con test's current record — 7 pounds 12 ounces Graham says if a gar gantuan tomato is spotted he rec ommends allowing it to grow as long as possible He also suggests starting seed indoors and setting transplants outdoor when soil ASSOCIATED PRESS FEATURES The first American cookbook "The New Art of Cookery" printed in Philadelphia in 1798 didn't mention tomatoes They were regarded then as poisonous since they are members of the nightshade family Today the tomato image has improved to the point where a fertilizer company is offering a $100000 prize for the grower of the world's largest tomato Consumption of the highly edible vegetable now averages 4 1 tomatoes per person per week for every man woman and child in this country That works out to approximately 80 pounds a year bur(including ketchup-covere- d gers and fries) Americans buy 9 million tons a year and grow another 16 million tons in home gardens Of the estimated 29 million Americans with home gardens 95 percent grow tomatoes according to a Gallup Poll Each garden averages six tomato plants and each plant produces an average of 45 tomatoes Miracle-Grfertilizer company offers some facts about the plant: While botanists classify the tomato as a fruit most people seem to consider it a vegetable The U S Supreme Court in deciding an 1893 case over imports ruled some-times-tox- temperatures reach Tomatoes apparently began as wild cherry-sizeberries in the i j V 60-6- d South American Andes The type known today developed in Mexico and was brought to Europe by boat with returning conquistadors In 1554 herbalist Pier Andrea Mattioli wrote "the tomato is eaten in Italy with oil salt and o that Supplement to The Richfield IleapeiTteaper Extra pepper" In August 1820 Robert Gibbon Johnson against the advice of his physician ate a tomato on the courthouse steps at Salem NJ Since he lived to tell the tale the demonstration helped remove doubt about tomato edibilitv it is a vegetable Some biblical scholars believe the Garden of Eden's love apple was a tomato In France a tomato is called pomme d amour In Italy it's pome amoris The botani WM: T r £ r-- Up And Growing ! Bob Dickinson left and Glen Warner of Dickinson Nursery And Greenhouses Inc have got a great start on all your spring planting needs Besides their full service nursery they Flowers Can Add Sparkle Color To Home Landscape Nothing adds sparkle to a scape like brightly colored JL landflow- ers offer a custom landscaping service and consultation including professional sprinkler installation and both retail and wholesale gardening and yard care needs KMLurjns mG'§ mi KhdiMui'Ummw Flowers are the perfect accent to background plantings of trees shrubs or turf Careful attention to variety selection and other factors means a successful flower garden Seeds’ fertilizers pest and weed control products For practical purposes flow ers m the following chart are divided into annual plants — those that must be planted as seeds or transplants each year - and perennial planLs - those that grow back each year Sprinkler Systems tillers & mowers Come see us soon!!! RICHFIELD SAUNA 448 E 1st So So HWY 89 896-646- 1 529-740- 7 I Slot Hour: Mon thru SM 00 m to S 30 p Side Discharge Nothings easier And Greenhouses Call 896-827- 0 Shaft d Drive Transmission Easily Converts to Mulch or KOTO-STOP- Dickinson Nursery 45 HP Commercial Engine j® The Fertilizer Specialists Honda g OHV Installation and Repair garden tools FARMERS?3 Easv-startin- Custom Design plus NTERMOUNTAW Recycle It's good for America ’ (Stops blade with engine running) Honda Jorgensen's 980 South Main Richfield 896-640- 8 Toll Free |