694 Transactions of the American Institute. 



this intermontane region, comprising over 7,000 square miles, there 

 are, probably 3,000,000 acres in forest, in which the axe of man lias 

 never entered. It is the idea of many'that a mountain is a barren, 

 but in western North Carolina they are covered with soil instead of 

 rocks; with giant oaks, chestnuts, and walnuts, instead of stunted 

 trees ; with rich green grass, instead of parclied up brown sedge. 

 However, of course, there are barrens. Land cleared and near Ashe- 

 ville is worth from three dollars to twenty dollars ; wooded land, at 

 greater or less distance, from fifty cents to three dollars per acre. 

 Some large mountain tracts miglit be bought for less. Mr. Colton 

 furtlier stated that three cheese factories have already been estab- 

 lished, the active man in the enterprise being Judge Woodfin, who, 

 by the way, has done much for his section, having given a good deal 

 of attention to scientific tillage. 



The Tomato and its Culture, 

 Mr. J. Payne Low, Little Falls, N. J. — It is now seasonable to 

 speak of the culture of this delicately acid, cooling, healthful, and 

 much-valued fruit, whose hygienic qualities have been well tested in 

 the human system, that most perfect of laboratories. Other fruits of 

 the garden have been long in reaching their present perfection ; 

 whereas the tomato has been a comparatively short time under cul- 

 ture. My experience has satisfied me tliat it is most susceptible of 

 improvenaent ; then why grow coarse, unsightly, spongy, ill-flavored 

 tomatoes when, by attending to a few simple but important things, 

 the finest qualities may be had. Seed from fruit which ripens earli- 

 est will produce tlie earliest next season, and if properly grown, and 

 from the best variety, will give the desirable qualities of earliness, 

 productiveness, size, solidity, fewness of seeds, beauty of form, thin- 

 ness of skin, delicacy of flavor, and richness of color. For germina- 

 ting seeds in a little box all that is wanted is a few inches of rather 

 light, rich soil ; the box in the sunshine in a warm, well ventilated 

 room, the box covered with glass to counteract tiie dryness of the 

 atmosphere; and plants once growing must receive no check from 

 want of care. A few plants well grown will be wortli far more than 

 any number of those crowded to suifocation in dealei-s' hot-beds. In 

 the neighborhood of New York the seed may bo germinated (in the 

 little box) about the middle of February or beginning of March. 

 Frequent transplanting is very desirable. Begin to do so when the 

 plants are two or three inches high. Let them not be put in the open 



