698 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Nov., 1910. 



TOMATO (IROWIXCI IX THE XORTH. 



L. Macdonald, Horticulturist. Dookie Agricultural College. 



As yet we ha\e only two districts in the North that may be considered 

 important as tomato-producers, viz. : — Bendigo and Ech'uca. In these 

 two districts the soils, situations, and cultural methods differ widely. 

 Yet, on comparing results, they are found to be approximate. It is mani- 

 fest, then, that the three things essential are: (i) A warm sun, (2) plenty 

 of water, (3) good drainage. In the places mentioned we find a good 

 practical representation of two methods of tomato-growing probably the 

 mo.st suited for Northern Victoria. The clo-se-planting, single-stem, stake 

 system prevails at Bendigo. where the growers are mostlv European ; while 

 at Echuca the growers, chiefly Chinese, adopt the flat system on raised 

 beds. 



Culture. 



At Bendigo the growers generally start their plants about the middle 

 of Julv. When the plants are large enough to move they transplant them, 

 about 3 inches apart, into larger frames. The latter are previously 

 filled up close to the glass with well-prepared fresh manure, which is 

 thoroughly tramped down as it is being filled in. When the whole mass 

 is well and evenly compacted i't is levelled off and is ready for the plants. 

 The manure is usually about 18 inches to 2 feet in thickness and 

 care is taken to get it of even density and quality so that there will not be 

 a great variation in temperature due to irregular fermentation and conse- 

 quently an uneven growth of plants in the frame. 



The plants are grown in the frame until the frosts are over, planting 

 out taking place early in October ; in the more favoured places it is begun 

 late in September. ' In growing the plants in the frames unremitting 

 attention is necessary and careful judgment must be exercised in the 

 control of air and water, otherwise damping off, lanky growth, or lack 

 of growth will result. The plants should be kept growing slowly and 

 should V)e in firm, stocky condition for planting out. 



In lifting from the frames a ball of the material in which they are 

 growing is cut out and left adhering to the plant ; consequently the plants 

 do not receive such a severe check as they would if planted out with bare 

 roots. Watering takes place immediately after planting, to settle the soil 

 well round the roots and force the air out ; this prevents evaporation and 

 consequent check to the plants. 



The plants are put about i foot apart in the rows, the distance 

 between the latter being about 2 feet. Between each pair of rows a 

 shallow gutter is shovelled out for irrigation, the removed earth being 

 ridged up around the plants. Under the staking system each plant is 

 trained to a single stem, the side shoots being nipped off. The stakes are 

 obtained from gum saplings that grow plentifully in the neighbourhood 

 and are about i or 2 inches in thickness and 2 ft. 6 m. m length. They 

 last for a number of years. The plants are tied to them with one to three 

 ties of about 4 inches in length, which are obtained by unravelling old 

 iute or "sujee" bags. Some of the growers give the .stakes m each 

 pair of rows a lean towards each other; this, it is contended, provides 

 more freedom for picking between each pair of rows, and also has a ten- 

 dency to retard growth and thus favour fruit production. 



Drainage is recognised as one of the most important factors m the 

 success of the tomato crop. A full appreciation is given to this matter 



