234 "^^^ Shallot. 



permitted to run to seed there, it is entirely free from such annoyances, 

 and its cultivation is directed simply to promote the vigor and growth 

 of the plants. 



The tomatoes are set in rows, three feet apart, and trained upon tem- 

 porary wire trellises, reclining moderately from the row, so that the 

 vine may rest upon the wires, to which it should, of course, be tied. 

 All this is very simple. 



The attentive observer will have noticed that the leaves and branches 

 of the tomato spring together from the main stalk, with intei-vals of 

 from six to ten inches, and that from such intervals, on the main stalk, 

 fruit-bearing stems, filled with fruit buds, have their origin. 



With ordinary pruning and care these fruit stems produce one, or 

 possibly two, tomatoes, unless, indeed, as too often happens, all the buds 

 perish ; but under the treatment which I advocate, they all become 

 beautiful clusters, of some six to twelve fine, full-grown specimens. 



How is this desirable object accomplished? Simply by cutting or 

 breaking off every branch as it appears, leaving only the main stalk, 

 with all its leaves and fruit stems, and when that arrives at a sufficient 

 height, nipping oft' the terminal bud. 



This mode of pruning forces all the power and vigor of the plant 

 into the fruit stems, vastly increasing their productiveness, hastening 

 the growth and maturity of the fruit, and giving it far greater beauty, 

 and exceedingly high and rich flavor. 



These upright plants, thus loaded with splendid clusters of the finest 

 fruit, become exceedingly attractive ornaments to the vegetable depart- 

 ment, and excite gi^eat curiosity and intei'est in all observers. No per- 

 son who has carefully carried out this mode of culture, will ever be 

 satisfied with this fruit raised in the ordinary manner. 



May 20, 1871. 



THE SHALLOT. 



By Fearing Burr, Hingham, Mass. 



The Shallot is one of the hardiest of the onion family. The bulbs, 

 which are shown of their natural size in the illustration, are formed of 

 numerous divisions, called " cloves." As the plant rarely produces 

 seeds, it is propagated by planting these divisions or "cloves," each of 

 which, like the potato-onion, develops into a group or cluster similar 

 to the parent. 



The "cloves" are set early in spring, in rows fifteen inches apart, 



