30 TOMATO CULTURE 



than that from lot No. 4. This is but one of the 

 scores of experiences which have led me to appre- 

 ciate, in some degree, the necessity of plenty of sun- 

 ht for the best development of the tomato. 

 Heat. The plant thrives best out of doors in a 

 y temperature of 75 to 85 F., or even up to 95 F,, 

 ii the air is not too dry and is in gentle circulation, 

 rate of growth diminishes as the temperature 

 falls below 75 until at 50 there is practically no 

 growth ; the plant is simply living at a poor dying 

 rate and if the growth, particularly in young plants, 

 is checked in this way for any considerable time they 

 will never produce a full crop of fruit, even if the 

 plants reach full size and are seemingly vigorous and 

 healthy. The plant is generally killed by exposure 

 for even a short time to freezing temperature, though 

 young volunteer plants in the spring are frequently 

 so hardened by exposure that they will survive a 

 frost that crusts the ground they stand in; but such 

 exposure affects the productiveness of the plant, even 

 if it subsequently makes a seemingly vigorous and 

 healthy growth. Under glass, plants usually do best 

 in a temperature somewhat lower than is most de- 

 sirable out of doors. I think this is due to the inevit- 

 able obstruction of the sunlight and the lack of per- 

 fect ventilation. 



/ Moisture. Although the tomato is not a desert 

 / plant and needs a plentiful supply of water, it suffers 

 / far more frequently, particularly when the plants are 

 young, from an over-supply than from the want of 

 1 water. Good drainage at the root and warm, dry, 

 \ sunny air, in gentle motion, are what it delights in. 



