SOME NOTES ON TOMATOES. 147 



Mr. Stroug asked whether tomato plants could be made to 

 produce fruit more than one year in New England. He spoke of 

 the tomato plant as being pereuuial in Southern California, be 

 having seen plants in fruit there which were more than one year 

 old, although not in a thrifty condition. He had lately seen, in 

 the island of Jamaica, plantations of them producing fruit in 

 great abundance, and in perfection throughout the winter months, 

 especially on the southern side of the mountain range, where the 

 soil is comparatively dry. It would seem that the fruit might be 

 sent to our northern markets with profit, the passage by steamer 

 being less than six days. Rut it is found to be very difficult to 

 get it here in good condition. It is a fruit that does not keep or 

 caiTy well. 



Professor Munson said he had sometimes taken two crops of 

 fruit from the same plant. After the first crop had been taken 

 from a forced plant, in January, the old growth was coiled upon 

 the top of the box of soil, in which it grew, and some fresh soil 

 put over it. Soon after, new shoots started out, grew well, 

 blossomed, and bore a crop of fruit — the second crop. The 

 same result is often obtained by cutting back the old plant when 

 the first crop is off, and allowing new shoots to grow from the 

 eyes near the base. In practice, however, better results are 

 obtained from the use of young plants, — either seedlings or 

 rooted cuttings. 



Mr. Strong spoke of a peculiar experience. One season he 

 planted a large field of tomato plants. The lot was upon a side 

 hill, and sloped to the south. In July a terrific hail storm swept 

 over the district, causing the almost total destruction of this crop 

 throughout that district. Singularly enough, his field, on the 

 southerly slope of a hill, almost entirely escaped injury. From 

 this field he sent to market a forty bushel load of fruit, which 

 brought to him one hundred and sixty dollars. He then again 

 referred to May planting out of tomatoes, and asked if it would 

 be expedient to place temporary boxing around the young plants, 

 to be covered with glass when frost was threatened. 



Professor Munson had known of boxes being used as described, 

 and the crop saved by them. But another method was to run a 

 cultivator through all the open ground in the field, just before 

 night ; this would induce a more rapid evaporation, which would 

 prevent frost bite. 



