TOMATOES. 207 



latitude I have found it a safe rule to retain my tomato plants 

 in the cold frames till the first of May, when all danger of 

 killing- by frost is past ; then I begin to remove them to the 

 field. I cut out each plant separately in a ball of earth six 

 inches square, containing the largest portion of the roots, and 

 remove to a sled or low frame improvised for the purpose, on 

 wagon wheels; then haul to tlie field, where the soil having 

 undergone the necessary preparation is checked off five feet 

 square. I place the plants in the checks, draw a little earth 

 around the balls, scattering a handfal of superphosphate close 

 to each but not touching the roots, draw more earth up, tramp- 

 ing firmly, and so cover the ball at least one inch, sufficiently 

 to steady the plant in its new position. Through careful 

 selection and hybridization, tliis vegetable has so increased in 

 size and productiveness, that it has become necessary to stake 

 each plant, so as to prevent rotting of the tomato by contact 

 with the ground. From twelve to twenty years ago, I used to 

 realize a net profit of one hundred dollars from each thousand 

 plants ; but now, the supply exceeds a profitable demand, and 

 the crop, as a whole, scarcely pays expenses. 



As soon as the tomato plants are all removed to the field, 

 the stakes already spoken of, which are made of white oak 

 split two by two inches, and six feet long, are hauled through 

 the field and left in convenient position for distribution, one to 

 each plant. One person sets these stakes in position close to 

 the plant, while another follows with a light mall and drives 

 one end of them from six to ten inches deep into the earth. 

 The plants are then tied to these stakes and must be tied at 

 least from four to six times during their growth to keep their 

 vines in an upright position, so as not to shade too heavily the 

 fruit already formed from its earlier blossoms. 



EARLY CULTURE. 



The old adage, " The early bird catches the worm" is 

 true here, even in horticultural pursuits, notwithstanding that 

 many fruits and vegetables are sent from the South, long in 

 advance of our natural season for like products, I still find that 



