THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



Jan. should not be pinched out, unless they are to be grown 



16-31 in a frame. 



Early Tomatoes. — If Tomatoes are only wanted for an 

 outdoor crop, there is no need to begin thinking about 

 sowing yet, because the plants cannot go into the garden 

 with safety before the end of May, but it is different if 

 early fruit under glass is desired. A propos of seed, do 

 not raisers over-clean it ? One buys Tomato seed that 

 has been so thoroughly cleansed as to show no trace of 

 the fruit from which it was taken. It looks very nice, 

 and it generally germinates ; but an acquaintance who 

 grows Tomatoes on a large scale for the markets assures 

 me that the plants are not so early and strong as those 

 from seed which has not been so rigorously washed out. 

 His plan is to halve the Tomatoes which are to yield the 

 seed, squeeze the pulp into a sieve, and rub as much as 

 possible through, then to dry the seed by rubbing 

 vigorously with a cloth. The seed should be sown 

 very thinly in a pot, pan, or box, using a light soil con- 

 taining a good deal of leaf mould and sand, and put on 

 a shelf in a warm house, or otherwise near the glass, so 

 that when the seedlings come they may be sturdy. 



Early Green Peas. — It is not quite orthodox to sow 

 Green Peas in clay soil in January, but I have done it 

 with satisfactory results in an exceptional winter, when 

 the ground crumbled after sunshine. The truth is that 

 the time for the first sowing of Peas is more a question 

 of the weather than anything. Those who have clay soil 

 learn from experience that they have to watch their 

 opportunities, and should one come in January they 

 need not be afraid to embrace it. If there is any refuse 

 soil from pot plants, and old hot-bed manure or wood 

 ashes, about the place, it is a capital plan to mix them, 

 and spread them in the drills before sowing. It is well 

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