POLLINATION OF TOMATOES. 163 
shown in Fig. 53 (page 162). This is made by glueing a 
small watch-glass to the end of a wooden ladle. There is 
a time in the life of the flower when the pollen falls out 
readily if the atmosphere is dry enough to hold dust. 
This is when the flower is fully expanded and somewhat 
past its prime. The flower is tapped lightly with a lead 
pencil and the light yellow powder falls out freely. The 
house must be dry and warm at the time. C. J. Pen- 
nock, Kennett Square, Penn., a grower of winter to- 
matoes for market, writes me as follows concerning the 
pollination of the flowers: ‘‘During the short days of 
winter I pollinate carefully every day, and I consider the 
operation necessary. I use a tool of my own make. It 
is a light piece of wood about 16 in. long and one-half 
in. square, one end of which has a slight saucer-like de- 
pression. This stick is held in the left hand with the de- 
pression under the blossom to be pollinated. Another 
light stick or reed is used to tap the blossom and shake 
out the pollen, the end of the pistil being pressed into 
the accumulated pollen in the depression at the same 
time. On a sunny day, when the house is dry, the opera- 
tion can be performed rapidly. I have tried jarring the 
plants and have seen a brush used, but do not consider 
either as good as the above method.” In the brighter 
days of March and later I have found no other attention 
necessary than keeping the house dry at midday. 
But there appears to be further reason why hand pol- 
lination is profitable. In my earliest 
experiences in tomato forcing I was 
impressed with the fact that indoor 
tomatoes are smaller than those grown 
out of doors, and the midwinter fruits 
are usually smaller than those pro- 
duced under the same circumstances LIE 
m- late “sprme. There. is also. .a <, One-sided tomato. 
marked tendency in house tomatoes to be one-sided, as 
indicated in Fig. 54. It was a long time. before any 
I2 FORC, 
