VEGETABLE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



87 



also used for field crops, its strong, upright stems saving the labour and 

 expense of staking. For private gardeners, Ponderosa can be recommended. 

 Other varieties that do well are Bonny Best, Stone, Trucker's Favourite, 

 Matchless, and Early Ruby. 



Early Tomatoes at HawKesbury Agricultural College. 



The prices received for tomatoes raised and placed upon the market before 

 the bulk crops come in, more than justify the small expenditure and the con- 

 siderable amount of light labour Required for their special treatment. 



At Hawkesbury Agricultural College, a method is adopted that has for 

 years proved this to be true, and as the College is situated in a belt of 



f ' ' 



General View of the Tomato Vines at Hawkesbury Agricultural College. 

 I 



country particularly liable to frost, a brief description of the methods 

 employed will no doubt be interesting. For the season 1918-19, a return of 

 240 14s. was received from a quarter acre plot ; 808 half bushel cases being 

 harvested, which had an average yalue of 5s. lljd. The actual values 

 ranged from 12s. to 14s. in early December, to 4s. to 6s. on 31st December, 

 a,nd to 6s. to 7s. 6d. at the end of February. 



The variety used is Spark's Earliana. Seed is sown about the middle of 

 July, in seed-boxes, and placed in a hot-bed where the growth of the young 

 plants is forced, and they can be covered from frosts at nfght. When the 

 'plants are about 2 in. high they are transplanted into 3-in. pots, and the pots 

 are plunged into the hot-bed, where the young plants can still be protected 

 at night. About the third week of September they are set out in the field. 



