FORCING OF VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS. /O 



ater than the first of August. Those plants for winter forcing I 

 prefer growing on in pots up to five-inch pots, potting firm. There 

 is nothing hke having stocky, short-jointed, thrifty plants to set 

 in the bench. Tomatoes are not particular as to soil. However, 

 the best is none too good for the work. What I would term a good 

 rose soil would be ideal for tomatoes with about half the quantity 

 of manure. Four or five inches of soil is sufficient to mature a 

 heavy crop of fruit. Supposing the house to be running east and 

 west, the tomatoes may be planted in rows across the house, eighteen 

 inches apart and fifteen inches in the rows, growing the plants 

 single stem, pinching away all lateral growth, and having a wire 

 running across say four or five feet above the bench for each row 

 secured to a five-foot stake. I find this a simple and effective way 

 in securing the growth. 



After planting the soil should be made firm, even, and pounded 

 down. We are not anxious for the plants to reach the five feet 

 too quick, but rather to keep them short jointed. From such 

 plants we naturally may expect a heavy crop, with not much diffi- 

 culty in setting them. This crop should be grown on what I shall 

 term the dry side, particularly so during the short days, otherwise 

 the result will be long jointed, soft growth, but I do believe in giving 

 the plants a thorough watering when they need it. Of times they 

 will look dry on the surface, but if the foliage looks vigorous with 

 no signs of wilting, they do not require water. During the winter 

 months it will be necessary to pollenate the blossoms. This may 

 be done very rapidly at midday when the pollen is dry. Tip the 

 blossoms gently, allowing the pollen to drop on your finger; then 

 just allow the stigma to come in contact with the pollen lodged on it. 

 This crop will take a considerable amount of feeding after the vines 

 are well set with tomatoes. Of course, the amount will be gov- 

 erned by the weight of fruit, conditions of vines, etc. In chemical 

 fertilizers, potash and phosphoric acid should be applied in a much 

 larger proportion than nitrogen, giving a firmer growth to both 

 vines and fruit. White fly used to bother me considerably, but 

 since the hydrocyanic gas came in use for greenhouse fumigating, 

 white fly is not a dread any more. Say one ounce of cyanide of 

 potassium to 1200 cubic feet will eradicate the pest. Of course, 

 in a week or so it may be necessary to give the house another fumi- 



