32 MARKET NURSERY WORK 



In February and March we sow in heat ; in August the natural 

 heat of a shaded greenhouse is sufficient. 



Sometimes the seeds take a month to germinate, this prob- 

 ably being influenced by the age of the seed, and when they once 

 start they should be kept active. Daily sprinkling is very 

 advisable, for on the least sign of dryness, red spider and thrip 

 both attack the young plants, and we have seen cases of neglect 

 where scale and mealy bug have also been found with the others. 

 Aralias and Grevilleas should be potted into 6o's as soon as they 

 are strong enough, but we do not as a rule hurry the Asparagus 

 and Smilax into single pots it will be time enough for them 

 when they have developed further. 



The trade will purchase most of these ex or in 6o's, but the 

 market asks for larger stuff in 48' s. One further point is impor- 

 tant never crowd either the Aralias or Grevilleas. The former, 

 in particular, easily spoils if crowded, for it is a fairly rapid 

 grower and its leaves are large compared with the size of the 

 plant. Therefore it needs space, practically as much as Cinerarias, 

 if the leaf stalks are to be strong and the foliage robust. 



With reference to the cultivation of Asparagus and Smilax 

 for cutting, we shall treat of these in good time, but the stage 

 we have brought them to now is the stage at which they are, 

 as a rule, sold to wholesale buyers. 



TOMATOES 



Though we deal with the cultivation of the Tomato in Vol. II 

 of this work, we deem it advisable to treat of the seed sowing 

 and early stages here in its proper place. 



Within the limits of our own practical experience, Tomatoes 

 have sprung from a position of utter insignificance to the foremost 

 place as a market nursery crop. Many hundreds of thousands 

 of pounds have been invested in that particular industry, as 

 a visit to certain districts around the London area will amply 

 demonstrate to the curious and interested. Range after range 

 of hothouses and an army of skilled workers are devoted almost 

 entirely to Tomato growing, and as an industry it plays an 

 important part in our economic system. 



