10 



QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 



Radish. 47. Q. Why do my radish roots become rough and scaly ? 



A. "Want of lime to drive off worms and grubs. 

 Tomatoes. 43. Q. How and when should Tomato seed be planted ? 



A. "When the apple is in bloom sow in hills three feet apart, on a warm 

 border, early in the Spring. For a later supply, sow a short time after- 

 wards in a more open situation. As the plants advance in growth sup- 

 port them by brushwood. To have the tomato very early it is necessary 

 to start the plants in a hotbed, or they may be reared in a flower-pot in a 

 window and subsequently transplanted. 



Plants for an early crop should be raised under glass. For intermedi- 

 ate crop they may be raised on outside beds. For late crops the seed may 

 be planted in permanent position when the apple is in bloom. The aver- 

 age production of fruit per acre on cultivated and fertilized land is about 

 14,000 pounds, or say 250 bushels per acre, though 18,000 or 30,000 

 pounds have been raised. 



Southern Florida tomatoes reach Philadelphia in February, and com- 

 mand $4 to $6 per bushel. By April the rate declines to $3 to $5, and 

 continues to decline till June, after which they fail to meet the cost of 

 transportation. Forty to eighty cents per bushel is an average price, 

 twenty-five to thirty-five cents per bushel for late crops. This crop ceases 

 to be profitable to the trucker unless he can realize sixteen cents per 

 bushel. They are very often a drug in the market. Tomato canning 

 houses buy the fruit by the ton at from $6 to $7. For seed purposes alone 

 we have washed out over 40,000 bushels of fruit iu a single season. 

 Bough Sorts. 49. Q, Why is it that the rough-fruited tomatoes. Early Jersey and 

 Richmond, are largely grown ? 



A. Because of their double qualities of earliness and resistance against 

 transportation injuries. 



By their earliness they are often more profitable than far better sorts 

 subsequently put into market, and by reason of their hollow cells they 

 will stand almost any amount of rough usage without bursting. 



50. Q. Why do my tomatoes fail to produce either blossom or fruit ? 

 A. Possibly by reason of the land being too richly manured or too 



much shaded. 



51. Q. Why do my tomatoes rot? 



A. Possibly because of a fungus growth for which no positive remedy 

 has been discovered. Some varieties are especially susceptible to it. 

 Spinach. ^2. Q. Describe the diflference between varieties of spinach ? 



A. The Bloomsdale is the earliest to develop plants of cutting size. Its 

 leaves are entirely savoyed or bloated and it is accordingly the most 

 elastic, bearing transportation better than any other sort. It is quite erect 

 in habit, and in Spring shoots the earliest to seed. It is most valuable as 

 an Autumn variety, being hardier than other sorts. The seed is round. 



Prickly spinach has thorny seeds and is the second to develop to mar- 

 ket size. The leaves are quite erect and elastic, somewhat similar to 



UnCroitful 

 Vine. 



Tomato Rot. 



