356 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



always that it has the necessary high temperature. It is 

 essentially a plant of the tropics, and need never be sown 

 in a hot-bed here before March, or planted in the open 

 ground before the middle of May. When grown in pri- 

 vate gardens, the Tomato should always be provided with 

 some sort of trellis (see description of Pea Vine Trellis in 

 chapter on "Implements," and also figure 136), or be 

 tacked up against a fence or wall. By this treatment, 

 not only will a heavier crop be obtained, but the flavor 

 will be better. When the fruit rests on the ground it 

 has often an inferior flavor, 

 particularly when eaten raw, 

 and is also more apt to decay. 

 A few dozen plants usually 

 suffice for an ordinary fam- 

 ily; and if there are no hot- 

 beds or other glass arrange- 

 ments on hand, the plants 

 had better be purchased, as 

 they are sold cheaply every- 

 where. The favorite varieties 

 are the new Mikado, Acme, 

 Perfection (figure 137), Par- 

 agon, Trophy (all scarlet or 

 crimson), and the Yellow 

 Trophy, besides the Red and 

 Yellow Plum Tomatoes, used 

 for pickling and preserves. 



TURNIP (Brassica campestris). 



The Turnip, if wanted for 



an early crop, is sown in 

 Fig.l38.-WHiTE EGG TinniF. early spring> ag directefl for 



Beets. The best sorts are the varieties known as White 

 and Purple-top Strap-leaved, White Egg (figure 138), 

 and Early Milan (figure 139). If for winter or fall 



