354 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



ordinarily be the case in respect to the majority of soft-wooded 

 plants The soil for the earliest pottings may be similar to that 

 in which the seed was sown, but when the plants are transferred 

 into pots four and a half inches to five niches in diameter a stronger 

 and more compact compost should be used. The sand may be 

 entirely dispensed with in favour of burnt garden refuse or wood 

 ashes. A small quantity of bone meal will also be found an excellent 

 additional ingredient. 



At this and all subsequent stages firm potting is a sine qua non 

 of successful tomato culture. The soil should be rammed down 

 hard in the pots, not half-heartedly but with a will, for loose pot- 

 ting, while it will ensure plenty of foliage, will not be productive 

 of a satisfactory crop of fruit Slow, sturdy growth, with bunches 

 of fruit in close proximity to each other, is the object to be aimed 

 at, and this can never be secured by loose potting or planting. 



As the roots become established in their new quarters growth 

 will become rapid, and some attention will have to be paid to 

 staking and tying, so that the main stem may be kept straight and 

 erect. If the seed were sown in January flower trusses should 

 make their appearance in May, and it wul then be necessary to 

 come to a decision hi regard to the permanent quarters of the 

 plants These may either be boxes or large pots. 



If boxes are used they can rest either on the greenhouse bench 

 or on the floor, according to the size and height of the house. The 

 boxes can be made of any length that is desired, but they must 

 be at least a foot deep and ten inches across. If they have been 

 strongly constructed they will last for several years. For pur- 

 poses of drainage eight or nine holes must be drilled in the bottom. 

 Over these broken pieces of flower-pots should be placed, and above 

 these a layer two or three inches thick of rough siftings of soil and 

 turfy loam. 



The ideal soil for the final stages of the development of the 

 tomato is undoubtedly good fibrous loam such as can be obtained 

 from the top spit the soil immediately beneath the surface of the 

 grass in a field ove which fat stock have grazed or poultry 

 have had a free run. If a very little well -rotted manure be incor- 



