74 THE GAEDENETTE 



For extra early tomatoes seed should be sown 

 as early as March 1, or even two weeks earlier. 

 Tomato seeds are slow in germinating under ordi- 

 nary conditions. We have been very successful 

 by pursuing the methods described, for we have 

 succeeded in ripening the crop two or three weeks 

 in advance of those grown by the ordinary meth- 

 ods. 



The seed is first sprouted. To do this, it is 

 spread about one-fourth of an inch deep on a strip 

 of burlap which is twelve by twenty-four inches in 

 size. The burlap is then folded down from both 

 ends, over the seed and rolled up and fastened 

 with pins. A label is also prepared and attached, 

 giving name of variety, date, and other informa- 

 tion desired. Then, into a pan containing half 

 a pint or more of warm but not hot water, pour 

 three or four drops of spirits of camphor. Now 

 place the roll of seeds in this water and leave for 

 one-half hour. Press out lightly, so that there 

 will be no dripping, wrap the roll as it is, in five 

 or six thicknesses of old newspaper; wet, and 

 place where the temperature is regular, and about 

 seventy-five degrees. The hot air chamber of a 

 Plant Incubator furnishes exactly these condi- 

 tions. Examine the seeds, and water as often as 

 needed. If conditions are kept right, germination 

 will show within four to six days. As soon as 

 the germ appears, plant at once, or there is dan- 

 ger of losing the seed. The seed should then be 

 sown in flats or shallow boxes in which there is 

 about three inches of rich, sandy compost. The 

 flats should be of uniform size, twenty-four by 

 twenty-six inches, and five inches deep. Cleats 



