io MARKET NURSERY WORK 



being paid to the direction of the wind. As the days lengthen 

 and the sun strengthens, so must the ventilation be increased 

 till a veritable wind blows about the plants though not a cold 

 one. That brisk air is charged with properties which carry 

 to the plants more than half their sustenance. It is a tonic, 

 imparting vitality and strength, and if we could only understand 

 the language of plants we should hear their grateful thanks. 

 As it is, their appreciation is expressed in the deepening colour 

 of the foliage, the glistening of the stalks and the vigour and 

 joy of life showing in every line, for as truly as the flushed and 

 glowing cheeks of youth proclaim enjoyment and rude health, 

 so do their counterparts in the plants proclaim the same happy 

 condition. Those who make a study of their plants and know 

 them will endorse this, but those whose interest in them is 

 perfunctory will probably smile. Well, let them ! 



One final word as to watering, Whenever this is done let it 

 be well done. If the plant needs water let it be watered 

 thoroughly, and unless it needs it leave it till it does. More 

 plants have succumbed to overwatering than to lack of water. 



IN POTS 



Many thousands of tomatoes are grown in pots, but this, 

 sometimes a mere matter of convenience, is more generally the 

 case where there are soil troubles too pronounced to be 

 economically corrected. For example, in Guernsey much of the 

 soil has become infested with "club root" we mention the 

 fact here without discussing it and growers have been put to 

 enormous expense in providing No. 8 pots and uncontaminated 

 soil to fill their houses. They have had, in effect, practically 

 to repurchase their land, for an acre of pots and enough clean 

 soil to fill them cost, we should imagine, as much as the ground 

 upon which they stand. 



Where pot culture is necessary, the points of vital importance 

 to be remembered are : (i) see that the compost is a good one ; 

 (2) see that the pots are well drained ; (3) see that the soil is 

 rammed firmly in the pots. These are an indispensable trinity 

 of points and must be strictly adhered to. When potting, 

 finish off with the pots only two-thirds full of soil, and thus 



