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TOM ATO. 



fruits were borne, but it was not until about 15 or 20 feet 

 from the building that a full crop was obtained. The ill 

 effects of shade are also visible upon the north benches of 

 houses running east and west, where the plants are shaded 

 somewhat by those in the center of the house. During 

 the middle of winter the north bench in the house will 

 ordinarily produce no more than half as much fruit, even 

 in an unequal-spanned house, as those in direct sunlight. 

 The plants in partial shade grow as well and as large as 

 those in full sun, and they often blossom well, but the 

 fruit does not set. 



The proper temperature for tomatoes is from 60 to 65 

 at night, and 10 higher for dull days. On bright days 

 it may be allowed to run higher, although we always 

 wish to ventilate at 75, but a temperature of 90 or even 

 100 can do no harm. Until fruit begins to set, the atmos- 

 phere should be kept moist, especially on bright days, but 

 the setting of the fruit is hindered by a humid atmosphere. 



Soil and fertilizers. Nearly all writers upon house cul- 

 tivation of tomatoes assert that the soil should be only 

 moderately rich, because heavily manured plants are over- 

 vigorous in growth, are generally unproductive, and are 

 particularly liable to disease; and the additional cost of 

 training is said to be considerable. Our experience em- 

 phatically contradicts this supposition. Heavily manured 

 plants undoubtedly require more care in the pruning, and 

 it is possible that when not properly handled they may be- 

 more liable to mildew, because of the dense and crowded 

 growth ; but, on the other hand, we always get the best 

 yield from the strongest plants, and we find the extra cost 

 of training to be of little account. We grow the plants in 

 rich garden loam, to which is added a fourth or fifth of its 

 bulk of well-rotted manure, and when the plants begin to 

 bear, liquid manure is applied nearly every week, or a top- 

 dressing of manure is given. To those unaccustomed to 

 forcing-house work this may seem extravagant fertilizing ; 

 but it must be remembered that in house cultivation the 



