io88 



Gardening for Amateurs 



be succeeded by young roots. Those roots 

 which are taken up and forced in pots are of 

 no more use after forcing, and should be 

 thrown away. 



Tomato seeds sown in pots of soil in 

 fibre and covered with glass. 



Spinach. This is a popular and useful 

 vegetable, and available all the year round ; 

 moreover, it is one of the easiest to grow. It 

 is at home in most soils and positions. For 

 early crops sow seed in February in drills 

 15 inches apart. When the plants are above 

 ground thin them to within 6 inches of each 

 other. Hoe frequently. Sow every three 

 weeks to keep un a succession of succulent 

 leaves, as the plant soon runs to seed, and 

 is then of no use. Sow about the middle 

 of August to provide the winter supply. 

 Sow again in the middle of September ; 

 this will come in useful in spring. The 

 broad-leaved Spinach is the best. 



Tomato. The Tomato is a tender plant, 

 and its cultivation out of doors requires 

 some skill and a good deal of care. When 

 it is a success it is one of the most remunera- 

 tive crops of the garden. An open, sunny 

 position, or a border at the foot of a south 

 wall or fence is essential ; should the season 

 prove wet and cold, plants in the latter 

 position only are likely to prove profitable. 

 They may, of course, be trained against a 

 wall or fence, and in that case the risk of 

 failure is minimised. Rather light, loamy 

 soil is most suitable, but ordinary land will 

 grow good crops. 



Seeds should be sown late in March singly 

 in pots of fine soil placed in a warm green- 



house. As soon as the plants are 2 inches 

 high transplant (3 inches apart) into shallow 

 boxes, still keeping them in the same posi- 

 tion ; give air fairly freely in warm weather, 

 the object being to grow a sturdy, strong 

 plant, ready for planting out of doors the 

 first week in June. As soon as the plants 

 are 5 inches high they should be potted 

 separately in 5-inch pots, using turfy soil 

 with which a little leaf-mould is mixed. At 



All side shoots must be removed from Tomata 

 plants, vigorous leaves may be shortened, 

 and the top of the plant cut off when three 

 or four bunches of fruit are "set." 



the end of April place them in a cold frame, 

 giving free ventilation in order to grow 

 them sturdily. At the end of May the plants 

 should be at least 15 inches high, with a few 



