236 KITCITEN GARDEN. 



first of May. The plants are to be thinned out so as 

 to be about three inches apart, and hoed frequently, a 

 little earth being occasionally drawn to the stems. 

 On dry, warm, and good soil the plaats will attain the 

 height of four or five feet. The pods are only used 

 when in a green state and filled with mucilage. 



Tomato {Solarium Ly coper sioum). — The tomato, or 

 love-apple, has become an article of immense consump- 

 tion in the Southern and Middle States, and in the 

 neighborhood of Philadelphia is an object of extensive 

 field culture. Two species are in common cultivation, 

 the Red-fruited and the Yellow-fruited. Each of these 

 kinds is divided into several varieties. The reds, which 

 are regarded as the best, are distinguished into — 1. The 

 Common Large ; 2. Small; 3. Pear-shaped; 4. Cherry- 

 shaped. Of the yellow there are the Large Yellow, and 

 the Small or the Cherry-yellow. The cherry kinds of 

 both colors are generally used for pickling, whilst the 

 larger sorts are eaten in various ways, or added to 

 soups. 



A rich, light mould is best adapted to the culture of 

 the tomato. Those intended for early use must be 

 started in hotbeds in the month of March. The seeds 

 should be sown thinly and covered lightly. They come 

 up quickly and grow rapidly, and require airing when 

 the weather is mild. When crowded in the first bed, 

 many of the plants may be transplanted into other beds 

 under glass, and placed three or four inches apart. 

 The planting out in the open air may take place about 

 the first of May, when the young plants may be put 

 about three feet apart in the most sheltered spots, 

 where they will have the full benefit of the sun. As 



