1S70.] TOMATO CULTURE. 223 



sprinklings are given early enough in the day to admit of the leaves drying before 

 the frame is closed for the night, if necessary to close it. Here growth is made, 

 flower-buds formed, and the plants are taken into the house about September, 

 and from this time on to April a plentiful supply of bloom is secured. 



When the plants have done blooming, they are stood out of doors in a shady 

 place, and not allowed to become by any means roasted, as is too commonly the 

 case, but kept moist, though allowed to ripen their foliage. The soil is then 

 shaken in good part from the roots, and they are repotted somewhat lightly in 

 good soil, placed in a cold frame, and kept close for some time, and then treated 

 as in the case of the seedling plants. 



Such is a mere outline of Mr Wiggins's treatment of the Cyclamen, and our 

 readers who have an opportunity afforded them of visiting Isleworth can see for 

 themselves what can be done under such a process. Our correspondent H. E. I. 

 C. S., who has this season been as successful as usual with the Cyclamen, wrote 

 to us recently, and stated, " If you intend saying anything about the Cyclamen, 

 I hope you will most strongly advocate my opinion, that it is not a flower for 

 April, but for November, December, January, and February, being at all other 

 times almost out of season." Our correspondent's aim was to impress upon culti- 

 vators that this flower can be had in bloom at the dead season of the year, when 

 there is little else to make the greenhouse and conservatory look gay. 



In addition to the Cyclamen, splendid strains of the Chinese Primrose, and of 

 the Polyanthus, are grown at Worton Cottage : probably the quality of the last 

 named can scarcely be excelled in the present day. As of old, the Pelargonium 

 still plays an important part, and a commodious square show-house full of these 

 will soon be a fine floral spectacle. At no period of the year can the sacred pre- 

 cincts of Worton Cottage — sacred in a floricultural sense — be trodden by the 

 visitor without seeing something of interest, and learning some lesson worthy of 

 being treasured up in the memory. At all times the houses and grounds are 

 models of cleanliness and order, and Mr Wiggins is never slow in freely impart- 

 ing any information asked at his hands by the inquiring visitor. 



TOMATO CULTURE. 



Tomatoes — or, as they are sometimes termed, Love Apples — should receive every 

 encouragement in the way of aiding them to make strong plants during the early 

 part of the month of May, so as to have them ready for planting out about the 

 20th of the month. If there is not enough of wall available to plant them 

 against, I find they ripen and colour their fruit well if planted in a single row in 

 the front of the fruit-trees on the wall, but about 4 or 5 feet from the wall. The 

 borders should have a south aspect, and the plants be trained to stakes 3 feet high, 

 and as soon as they reach the top of the stakes they should be stopped, and kept 

 pinched in as soon as they have bloomed ; the young fruit should be well thinned 

 out, and the foliage kept spare so as to admit the sun. At this stage of their 

 growth the plants should never want for water; and should the weather be very 

 dry, a good watering at least twice a- week with liquid manure should be given : 

 this I find to be much better than planting the Tomatoes in manure. The best 

 kind I have ever grown is known as Powell's Dwarf Prolific Red ; this I have 

 used at least twelve years, and in most seasons am enabled to keep up a supply 

 for six months — from July till after Christmas. The first crop I take from pot 

 plants grown under glass ; these are succeeded by those ripened in the open air ; 



