TOMATOES 285 



county organized may become a member. She must 

 plant one-tenth of an acre in tomatoes, and do all of the 

 work connected with her garden, except preparing the 

 soil for her plants. Prizes are offered for the largest 

 yield, the best display in glass jars, best essay on her 

 garden work, largest and most perfect tomato, neatest 

 and best collection of tomato recipes, etc. Canning 

 parties are held at the homes of the girls, and the 

 whole work becomes an inspiration to the entire com- 

 munity. 



Some requirements in tomato culture. A clay soil is 

 preferred by some varieties of tomatoes, and a sandy 

 soil by others. Deep preparation and plenty of ma- 

 nure will make good tomatoes on almost any kind of 

 soil. Too much manure on light soil, however, may 

 cause the plant to run to vine. Sow the seed in the hot- 

 beds about the end of March, and transplant the plants 

 into small pots when about two inches high. They 

 should not be set out until the temperature is likely to 

 stay above 60 F. All the rules of transplanting men- 

 tioned in Lesson 77 should be observed. Set the plants 

 three feet apart in rows three and one-half feet apart. 

 Thorough cultivation, loosening the soil and killing the 

 weeds, is necessary until the plants begin to spread and 

 cover the ground. The soil should then be drawn up 

 to the plants in hills two or three inches high. A 

 strawy mulch over the ground, or some support, as a 

 trellis, is necessary to keep the fruit off the ground. 



The fruit will begin to ripen in August and should 

 be picked as fast as ripe. The plant will usually con- 



