;oS THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



20 to 32 in. apart, according to the variety. As soon as the plants 

 have grown from 1 6 to 20 in. high, each of them should be sup- 

 ported either with a single stake, or with a series of stakes fastened 

 together and forming a kind of trellis, upon which the branches of 

 the plant are tied. The latest varieties would be all the better for 

 being planted at the foot of a wall or other shelter with a warm 

 aspect. In these varieties, too, it is advisable to limit the pro- 

 duction of the fruit to a certain number by pinching off all the late 

 flowers. It is also a good plan, sometimes, to pinch some of the 

 shoots ; but that should be done with discretion, so as not to leave 

 the plant too bare of leaves. Under this mode of culture, the 

 earliest varieties will commence to yield fruit in the course of 

 August, and produce them all through the autumn. When frosty 

 weather approaches, any fruit that are full-grown but not yet 

 coloured may be cut off, branches and all, and stored in a dry 

 room, where they will duly ripen. Ripe Tomatoes may be obtained 

 as early as the latter end of April by means of forcing. In this 

 case the plants are grown entirely in hot-beds. The first sowings 

 are made in September, but more usually in January. The 

 seedlings are pricked out, and also permanently planted out in 

 hot-beds, always under the same conditions, four plants to each 

 light. As the plants require a good deal of heat, the beds should 

 be surrounded with linings of manure, which can be renewed at 

 pleasure. Plants thus formed are usually not allowed to bear more 

 than two branches, which are attached horizontally to a wire or a 

 strong cord running from one end of the bed to the other, and as 

 near the glass as possible. Until the fruit is formed and com- 

 mencing to ripen, other plants are usually grown in the hot-beds 

 along with the Tomatoes, thus utilising the heat and also the space 

 which is not yet filled up by the principal crop. 



In Great Britain of late years the ties of England and Ireland have a 



culture of Tomatoes has spread very considerable advantage in Tomato 



much, though far from, as yet, being culture over those in the north, 



able to meet the demand for the Mr. Hobday, growing them in a 



fruit. The climate is one of the by no means favourable district, 



worst possible for Tomatoes, yet, may be taken as a trustworthy 



notwithstanding, our gardening re- guide for private garden practice, 



sources and skill are such that much which, however, varies much and 



excellent fruit is grown. To raise is improved year by year : 

 it, however, is not so simple as in " Sow the seeds in February or 



America, where over a vast range of early in March in pots or pans ; 



the continent the Tomato is one cover lightly with sand or sandy 



of the most easily grown field crops, soil, and place in a hot-bed near 



Some general idea of the most sue- the glass. When the young plants 



cessful methods pursued in British appear, move them to a warm house, 



gardens is therefore desirable here, where they will be near the glass, 



Those situated in the southern coun- to get hardened by light and ex- 



