The Culture of Vegetables 



TOMATO 



Lycopersicum esculentum 



THE taste for Tomatoes, like certain engagements, often begins with a 

 little antipathy, but it is soon acquired, and not infrequently develops 

 into decided fondness for the fruit both cooked and in its natural con- 

 dition. Long after the Tomato had been recognised in the United 

 States as a necessary article of food the call for it in this country was 

 limited to a select circle of epicures. As a matter of fact our Trans- 

 atlantic kinsmen taught us the value of its refreshing, appetising, and 

 corrective qualities. Still, the advance in public favour has been 

 accelerated by the improved quality, enhanced beauty, and increased 

 variety effected by several of our own talented specialists in horti- 

 culture. 



The Tomato is a tender, but not a tropical plant, and it requires 

 a moderately high temperature, free access of air, and above all a 

 full flood of solar light to bring it to perfection. The necessary heat 

 is easily managed in any garden equipped with ordinary forcing 

 appliances ; so also is a current of air in properly constructed 

 buildings ; but the deficiency of light during the darker months 

 renders it almost impossible to ripen fruit in mid- winter ; otherwise 

 no trouble would be experienced in sending Tomatoes to table every 

 day throughout the year. Our long nights and murky atmosphere 

 afford the growers of sunnier lands an opportunity of consigning 

 vast quantities to this country, under the serious disadvantage, how- 

 ever, of being compelled to cut the fruit prematurely. Hence the 

 ripening is completed during the voyage instead of on the plant, to 

 the detriment of colour and flavour, and with the additional objection 

 of rendering the skin disagreeably tough. Imported Tomatoes are, 

 indeed, only tolerable to an educated palate when English-grown 

 fruit cannot be obtained. This remark does not apply to the fruit 

 obtained from the Channel Islands, where Tomatoes are skilfully 

 grown, carefully packed, and so expeditiously conveyed to the London 

 market that there need be no appreciable deterioration in quality. 



In a private garden the object to be aimed at is a daily supply, 

 commensurate with household requirements, commencing on the 

 earliest possible date in spring and extending far into autumnal 

 days, without interval or waste from beginning to end. And it will 

 be obvious that the methods which are adapted for securing this 



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