94 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



TOMATO CULTURE. 



CHAPTER HI. 



How TO Make Plant Boxes and Set Plants in Them. 



Rip up pine lumber 4 inches wide and ^ inch thick. To make a box, 

 cut off three pieces (two for sides and one for the bottom) 30 inches long, and 

 two pieces for the ends 3)^ inches long at the bottom edge, and 4^ inches 

 long at the upper edge. Nail them together with wire nails i ^ inches long > 

 use two nails at the end of each long piece twelve nails to a box. Now you 

 have a box 4^ inches wide at the top and 3^ inches wide at the bottom. 

 Into a box of this shape the plants can be set with ease and rapidity ; they can 

 also be taken out quickly without much disturbing the roots when setting them 

 out where they are to fruit. 



For lifting the plants I have found nothing so good and handy as a stone 

 mason's trowel. Cut enough off the point to leave a straight edge i^ inches 

 wide. File or grind the point and both edges as sharp as a knife. With this 

 tool cut the plants out of the rows as soon as they begin to crowd each other. 

 Cut a square face between the plants, and at the sides of the row cut, wedg- 

 ing the shape of the inside of the box. Cut the lumps out with a lump of 

 earth about an inch smaller than the size of the box inside. Lift the plants 

 with the trowel and hand, with soil adhering to the roots, and place them in 

 the box so as to disturb the roots as little as possible. Put five or six plants in 

 a box and fill up with mellow, very rich soil ; press them in firmly, and water 

 often, and very moderately at first, until the earth is settled well and the new 

 roots started, then they may be watered according to their requirements. 



When first boxed off they are better set close enough for the plants to just 

 touch each other for a day or two. But care must be taken to give plenty of 

 room as soon as growth starts, or the plants will be drawn and spoiled. 



CHAPTER IV. 

 Growing Extra Large Plants. 



If plants are wanted larger and more forward than the boxed plants are, 

 order from a potter tomato pans 5 inches deep and 8 inches wide at the top, 

 and 6 inches wide at the bottom, inside measurement. Lift the plants with a 

 larger amount of soil than when boxing them, and set one plant in each pan, 

 fill with very rich soil to within half-an-inch of being full when firmly pressed 

 down. Water as directed for boxes, and give plenty of room. Plants. so treated 



