Thanks Craig for posting the above as I have been waiting for this post of yours.
My question is according to Will Tracy
"Tomato Culture" on page 14+5 where talks about :
"Different types now common, according to Stur-
tevant, have become known to, and been described by
Europeans in about the following order:
i.Large yellow, described by Matthiolus in 1554
and called Golden apple.
2.Large red, described by Matthiolus in 1554 and
called Love apple.
3.Purple red, described by D'el Obel in 1570.
4.White-fleshed, described by Dodoens in i586.
5.Red cherry, described by Bauhin in 1620.
6.Yellow cherry, described by Bauhin in 1620.
7.Ochre yellow, described by Bauhin in 1651.
8.Striped, blotched or visi-colored, described by
Bauhin in 1651.
9.Pale red, described' by Tournefort in 1700.
io.Large smooth, or ribless red, described by
Tournefort in 1700.
i i. Bronzed-leaved, described by Blacknell in 1750.
12.Deep orange, described by Bryant in 1783.
13.Pear-shaped, described by Dunal in I8o5.
14.Tree tomato, described by Vilmorin in 1855.
15.Broad-leaved, introduced about 186o.
Later on he describes the tree tomato on page 100:
"In sharp contrast with the above is the tomato De
Laye, often called Tree tomato. This originated about
1862 in a garden at Chateau de Laye, France. In this
the plant rarely exceeds 18 inches in hight, is single-
stemmed or with few very short branches, the nodes
very short, the fruit clusters few and small. From
this, by crossing with other types, there has been de-
veloped a distinct class of dwarf tomatoes which are
of intermediate form and character and are well rep-
sented by the Dwarf Champion."
Is it possible that (Louis de)Vilmorin knew of this variety prior to Chateau de Laye debut?
Jeff