TOMATOES. 205 



as an annual. — The tomato is a branching- plant, generally 

 with flexible stems that require support to grow erect. Its 

 flowers are yellowish and grow in clusters on the stem, oppo- 

 site or nearly opposite leaves, not axillary; fruit, a true 

 berry; seed kidney-shaped, flat, with a roughened surface. In 

 many parts of this section, the tomato can be successfully 

 grown as a market crop, and there is no place where it cannot 

 "be grown in sufficient quantities for home use. The cultiva- 

 tion of this vegetable for canning purposes is already occu- 

 pying the attention of farmers in a few localities in this section, 

 and it is an industry that is destined to greatly increase in the 

 future. It is one of the easiest and surest crops to grow, pro- 

 viding one has good plants to start with. 



Growing the Plants. It is especially important to sow the 

 seedbeforethe first of April, and the middleof March isthought 

 about the right time by most growers. The seed grows easily 

 but needs considerable heat and rich soil to do its best. The 

 plants should be "pricked" out after they have their second 

 leaves and be transplanted as often as they get crowded, so 

 they may become stout and strong. Hotbeds may be used for 

 this purpose or the seed started in greenhouses: it is also 

 easily grown in window-boxes. If too close together, they 

 grow weak and poor. It is very important that the plants 

 should be well hardened off before they are set in the open 

 ground. 



The land preferred for tomatoes is a rich, retentive sandy 

 loam, but they will do fairly well on almost any well drained 

 soil, and even if on rather poor soil will do better than most 

 crops. A southern slope is preferable, but they will ripen al- 

 most anywhere if properly managed. The tomato preemi- 

 nently needs a warm place, and if rich manure is plowed into 

 the soil it is beneficial, since by its fermentation it raises the 

 temperature of the land. 



Transplanting and After-cultivation. The plants should be 

 moved to the open ground as soon as all danger of severe frost 

 is past, which will generally be about the twentieth of May in 

 southern Minnesota and not until the first of June in more 

 northern sections. They should be set about five feet apart 

 each way and about six inches deep. If the stems of the plants 

 when planted out are very long, they should be partly buried 



