REPORT OF THE EORTICULTURIST 



135 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The varieties of tomatoes wliich have averaged best for a niiirjber of ye^irs and 

 which are recommended for general planting are: — Early, Sparks' Earliana. Main 

 Crop, Brinton's Best, Trophy, Matchless (scarlet), and Burpee's Climax, and Autocrai 

 (purplish pink). 



An experiment with a certain method of pruning tomatoes was tried this year with 

 gratifying results. When the plants in the hot-beds had six strong leaves developed, 

 which was on May 23, the tops were nipped off and the plants given more room, being 

 placed 5i inches apart. The object of pinching off the top of the plant was to cause new 

 shoots to develop at the axils of the leaves in order to have six branches bearing early 

 tomatoes instead of the cue cluster usually found on the top of the plant. These were 

 planted out on June C>, alongside other plants unpruned. On June 22, half of the 

 l)runed plants were again pruned, all laterals being taken out and the six main branches 

 only being left, the other plants Avere left to grow at will, and it was found that they 

 I>roduced the most ripe fruit, though not the largest early crop. This system of pruning 

 H very promising- The further advanced the axillary shoot's are when the plants are 

 set out the larger the early crop is likely to be. In the experiment this year the plants 

 were not started nearly early enough to get the best results. The experiment was 

 suggested by Mr. J. S. Tiittooy. Everett, Washington Territory, who has been pruning 

 tomatoes in tliis way for some time in Washington, with gratifying results, where 

 they have difficulty in ripening tomatoes. 



TOMATOES — EXPERIMENT IN PRUNING. 



TOBACCO— TEST OF VAEIETIES. 



Tobacco is tested every year at the Central Experimental Farm on account of the 

 importance of the crop. This year fifty-one varieties were grown, or at least tobacco 

 luider fifty-one different names, as it is probable that a number of them were synonyms. 

 Twenty plants of each variety were tested, but seven kinds were grown on larger 

 areas. The season was favourable to the tobacco crop, as although it was cool 

 the plants grew well, and by September 9, when they were cut, the plants were nearly 

 as mature on the whole as they usually get here. The seed was sown in hot-bods on 

 April 4, and the plants pricked out into a cold frame on May 21, and planted in the 

 field on June 6, in rows 3 x "i feet apart. 



