THE SECKETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 



261 



PICKING TOMATOES. 



Contrary to the prevalent belief, the fact is that tomatoes are better not to 

 ripen fully on the vines. If picked when only partly red, and placed in a dry 

 shed for a day or two they will ripen all over more perfectly than they will if 

 allowed to remain upon tlie vines. They are less likely when handled thus to 

 be damaged by rain and by blistering in the excessive heat of our August 

 sunshine. Many of our best gardeners do not market them for a day or two 

 after picking. 



TOMATO EXPERIMENT. 



On the fifth of March of last spring I sowed the following varieties in a 

 moderate hot-bed and grew probably 200 plants. I selected twelve of each 

 variety and transplanted to the south side of a fence and provided means to 

 cover them in cold nights. May 10th I transplanted them to the garden, 

 placing them three feet apart. The result as to time of ripening is in the 

 following table. The figures represent the total numbers of tomatoes picked at 

 the dates named from each twelve vines : 



The end of the rows of the last three were shaded a little in the morning, 

 and some little allowance must be made on that account. 



The One Hundred Days, as in all my former exj)eriments, ripened first, and 

 furnished much the largest number of tomatoes for the first month. Its fruit, 

 however, is much smaller than any of the others, and especially towards the 

 last of the month. It rotted less than any. Although rather small and 

 sometimes rather rough, yet if a gardener, I should plant at]leastone quarter of 

 my early stock of the One Hundred Days. This must be taken as opinion only, 

 for many would not agree with me. 



Alpha, a new variety, came next, and is a very valuable kind. It is of good 

 size and shape, much like Canada Victor, and if I chose only one kind I would 

 choose it. 



Acme is beautiful tomato, and with us most salable of all when it comes, but 

 this experiment and other knowledge of it tells me it cannot be classed among 

 the very early tomatoes. Of course it is one of the best for main crop. It is 

 perfectly smooth and of a purplish color. 



Canada Victor is an excellent early variety, ranking in former experiments 

 about as it does here. 



Paragon is a very handsome tomato, as smooth as Acme, larger and of a 

 bright red, while the latter is of purplish red. It did not prove productive. — 

 L. A, Foots in Indiana Farmer. 



