446 GARDEN FARMING 



year becoming more and more important, are practically bare of 

 tomatoes from early in July throughout the rest of the season, 

 and some local growers have taken advantage of the opportunity 

 to grow a second or late crop, and are now reaping a satisfactory 

 harvest from such plantations. The varieties adapted to this pur- 

 pose are not well understood, and each locality engaging in this 

 work will, of necessity, be compelled to work out its own variety 

 list. When this shall have been determined, the question of pro- 

 ducing a late crop to supply the Southern market will be much 

 simplified, and a large number of gardeners will find it a paying 

 crop. At the present time the Success seems to be the only 

 variety which is well adapted to this purpose in the state of Texas. 



THE FORCING OF TOMATOES 



Construction of the greenhouse. In the forcing of plants in an 

 artificial environment, the first requirement for success is a prop- 

 erly constructed greenhouse. Because of the tropical nature of the 

 tomato, extraordinary provisions must be made to meet the de- 

 mands of the crop. In the forcing of most vegetables a low tem- 

 perature and benches without bottom heat are satisfactory, but with 

 the tomato the house must be piped so as to maintain a minimum 

 temperature of 65 F. and the benches are most satisfactory if 

 constructed to admit of applying bottom heat. The common type 

 of house is the even-span or three-quarter-span house. For the 

 even-span house the ridge should, preferably, run north and south ; 

 for the three-quarter-span house it is best to have the long side 

 sloping toward the south. Because of its long fruiting season and 

 the fact that its clusters of fruit are borne one above the other, the 

 tomato requires a considerable amount of head room. Low houses 

 are therefore not desirable. The side walls of the house should 

 be at least 4 feet in height, and the distance from the top of the 

 middle bench to the ridge should be at least 10 feet. The depth 

 of soil necessary is at least 6 or 8 inches, which is considerably 

 more than that required by roses. The temperature and other 

 requirements of the forced tomato are much like those of the 

 greenhouse rose. The night temperature should be maintained at 

 60 to 65 F. and the day temperature from 70 to 80 F. 



