The Canadian Horticulturisi. 55 



that, from long^experience, 1 am convinced that every time a tomato plant is 

 transplanted it loses to some extent its productiveness. Most of my readers 

 will have observed that where plants spring up from self-sown seed a single 

 plant in a place, if kept hoed and clean, they are, as a rule, always more pro- 

 ductive than those that have been transplanted several times. But the crop 

 will be late in ripening and consequently will be unprofitable. 



My objec;, therefore, in advocating plenty of room is to instruct how to 

 grow large, early plants with but few removals, and at the same time to remove 

 them in such a manner as to check the plants but ver)^ little. When the plants 

 have plenty of room they can be left in the seed bed till they are stocky and old 

 enough for the wood to have become hardened, then they can be transplanted 

 with very little check. The directions for the second and third shiftings are 

 such as will scarcely check them at all. 



As soon as the plants are up, care must be taken to keep an even degree 

 of heat f rom the bottom, and, at the same time, air from the top when required. 

 Especial care should be taken on bright, sunny days lest too much heat is 

 allowed to accumulate next the glass, else the plants will be overdrawn and 

 thereby injured. Grow the plants as large and strong as possible until the 

 leaves touch each other. Then no time must be lost in shifting at once. Take 

 a trowel and dig them so as to break the roots as little as possible. Now mark 

 out the soil on the benches in rows, twelve inches apart, and dibble them into 

 the ground, setting them up to the seed leaf. Set the plants seven inches apart 

 in the row. Let them grow until the leaves touch again, and they are ready for 

 the second removal. This time they are to be boxed off. 



( To he continued ) 

 St. J/ans. S. H. Mitchell. 



Loudon's Rules of Horticulture. — i. Perform every operation in 

 the proper season and in the best manner. 



2. Complete every operation consecutively. 



3. Never, if possible, perform one operation in such a manner as to 

 render another necessary. 



4. When called off from any operation, leave your work and tools in an 

 orderly manner. 



5. In leaving off work make a temporary finish, and clean your tools and 

 carry them to the tool-house. 



6. Never do that in the garden or hot-houses which can be equally well 

 done in the reserve ground or in the back sheds. 



7. Never pass a weed or an insect without pulling it up or taking it off, 

 unless time forbids. 



8. In gathering a crop, take away the useless as well as the useful parts. 



9. Let no plant ripen seeds unless they are wanted for some purpose 

 useful or ornamental, and remove all parts which are in a state of decay. 



