TOMATO 261 



cyanic gas, may practically ruin a crop. Skillful water- 

 ing, heating,, ventilating and pollinating are required to 

 obtain a satisfactory setting of fruit. While serious 

 difficulties may exist, there are now many growers who 

 are experts in forcing this crop, and they have little fear 

 of failure because they are thoroughly conversant with 

 the numerous cultural details that must have close 

 attention. 



Southern competition should be considered in this 

 connection. The tomato pays best as a spring forcing 

 crop, and then the northern greenhouse product invari- 

 ably comes into competition with tomatoes shipped from 

 Florida and other southern points. While forced to- 

 matoes, during the spring and early summer, un- 

 doubtedly command lower prices on account of southern 

 competition, the greenhouse crop is so superior in quality 

 and is grown at a cost so low that the fruit may be sold 

 at comparatively low prices, say 10 cents a pound, and 

 still leave a satisfactory margin of profit. 



The tomato is an important vegetable for forcing be- 

 cause it fits so well into the rotation of greenhouse crops. 

 Lettuce, radishes and cauliflower may be grown during 

 the duller weather of the fall and winter, and tomatoes, 

 set in the beds about March 1, will come into bearing the 

 latter part of May and continue to produce until 

 August 15. The spring crop is not so difficult to grow, 

 and any careful gardener may be reasonably certain of 

 success. 



Hundreds of greenhouses are now devoted to the 

 forcing of tomatoes. Some of the ranges occupy several 

 acres of land. A small percentage of the growers pro- 

 duce tomatoes throughout the forcing season. Some 

 grow them only in the fall and occasionally at mid- 

 winter, but the majority find that it is most satisfactory 

 to use the houses for cool crops until spring and then to 

 plant tomatoes, which are marketed mainly during the 

 months of June and July. 



