I 3 o THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



a separate stake for its support. Plunging the pots can be adopted 

 to save labour in watering. 



No advantage is to be gained by attempting to force Tomatoes in 

 a higher temperature than is consistent with healthy progress, although 

 in winter there is great temptation in the direction of overheating. 

 Full time for development in moderate heat will bring stout joints, 

 and impart a vigorous constitution that materially aids the plants in 

 resisting the insidious attacks of disease. The waning autumn and 

 dull winter days are the most troublesome periods of management, 

 and it is remarkable that of two days equal in duration and apparently 

 in other conditions, the autumnal appears to be less favourable than 

 the spring day. The difficulty of carrying plants through the winter 

 deters many gardeners from commencing operations until February 

 is well advanced. But if, on the one hand, a high temperature is 

 injurious, a low temperature must be avoided ; although for a time 

 it may not appear to be harmful. A temperature of 60 or 65 suits 

 the seed-pans, and after transfer to pots and the roots have become 

 established, the thermometer should not register less than 55 during 

 the night. It may rise 10 by means of fire heat in the daytime, and 

 during bursts of sunshine another 10 or 15 will be quite safe, always 

 assuming that the roots are not dry, and that the plants have free 

 ventilation. 



The judicious administration of water forms an important feature 

 in the culture of the Tomato. The plant is too succulent to endure 

 drought with impunity, and it is mere folly to toy with the water-can. 

 Saturate down to the roots, and then leave the plants alone until more 

 water is wanted. No hard and fast rule can be stated as to frequency. 

 It depends on the condition of the soil, the period of the year, and 

 the age of the plants. Borders and soil for pots should be made 

 sufficiently moist in advance, so that watering will not be necessary 

 immediately after the plants are transferred. The prevalent opinion 

 that excessive watering generates disease is not confirmed by our ex- 

 perience. Of course the watering should not be excessive for many 

 reasons, but the diseases which are often attributed to over-watering 

 are the result of atmospheric mismanagement. 



Authorities are not agreed as to whether branched plants or 

 simple cordons yield the better results. In our judgment the single 

 stem deserves preference, and it is now more extensively grown than 

 any other form, although plants having two branches are almost 

 equally popular. Certainly the cordon can be managed with extreme 

 ease ; it is admittedly the earliest producer, and there is a general 



