246 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



does tlie short and frequently dark days of December and Janu- 

 ary. Unlike lettuce, radishes and other vegetables which come to 

 perfection in a comparatively cool temperature, the tomato de- 

 lights in a warm, sunny location both for setting vigorous fruit 

 abundantly and for ripening it. In growing tomatoes so as to 

 market the fresh fruit during December, January and February, 

 peculiar difficulties are met which do not attend the growing of 

 this fruit in other portions of the year when there is more 

 sunlight. 



The inexperienced growler, eager to secure strong, vigorous 

 plants is quite apt to overdo the matter. Either by furnishing 

 an abundance of rich soil in which the plant is allowed to grow 

 unchecked, or by the too liberal use of liquid manure or other 

 fertilizers, he may produce so rank a growth that the plant is 

 unnecessarily slow in coming into bearing. 



Those who have had more experience grow thrifty but stocky 

 plants for forcing. They seek a healthy growth yet hold the 

 plant somewhat in check till it has a degree of maturity favor- 

 able to the production of fruit. Some gardeners try to prevent 

 too vigorous growth by setting the plants in a very small amount 

 of soil, and later add commercial fertilizers or liquid manure 

 according to the apparent needs of the plant. Excellent results 

 have been secured in this way, but the soil dries out very quickly 

 so that it requires very close attention to the watering. 



Others check the root growth by planting in boxes or pots. It 

 is reported that on the island of Guernsey, where large quanti- 

 ties of tomatoes are forced for the London market, the plants are 

 frequently grown in pots. In this country planting in boxes is 

 more frequently advocated. These may be from eight inches to a 

 foot wide, about a foot deep and several feet long, with plants 

 set every two feet. If separate boxes are used for each plant 

 they commonly hold from one to one and a half cubic feet of soil. 



Some gardeners plant in an abundance of good soil in beds on 

 OB benches where the roots may grow unrestrained and try to 

 control the growth by leading out two of the first shoots, one on 

 each side of the main stem, thus training the plant to three stems 

 as shown in Plate II. The two-foot rule near the center stem 



