ii8 Thk Canakian Hoki icl'i.turist. 



Jbt (g-ardei) ai)d I^aLci;. 



CROWINC. KAKI.V TOMATOES. 



Tj* C) other garden vegetable has, jjcrhaps, grf)wn faster into public favor 

 than the tomato, neither is there any more profitable, if got in mar 

 ktt early, of fine appearance and of good quality ; sales are brief 

 then and prices high, and to this end every grower endeavors to 

 obtain the earliest variety. Hut from my experience in tomato cul- 

 ture, I find there are other things more essential in obtaining early 

 fruit than the variety. 



I find that the best mode of cultivating the tomato, is to get well selected 

 seed of the best early variety, and sow the seed in a hot bed about the first of 

 March. Sow in rows two inches apart, and when the plants have four leaves, 

 transplant into another hot bed. Or the seed may be sown in a small box and 

 this laid in a hot bed which will require less space for the first sowing. In 

 transplanting set the plant deeper than it was in the first bed. Check off the 

 second bed four inches ajjart and set the plants in the cross. I do not know 

 that transplanting causes the plant to fruit earlier, but it gives it more and 

 stronger roots, while it is too cold to j)lant in the open ground, so that when set 

 in the field they force the plant to a rapid growth and the fruit to a rapid 

 maturity. 



In the last half of May, if the situation may be chosen, select a plot of ground 

 facing the south-east. Manure heavily with well rotted manure. I would not 

 use any but thoroughly rotted manure, as it seems to cause the fruit to rot. The 

 richer the soil the earlier and finer the fruit. 



Break the ground deep, and pulverize thoroughly ; mark off rows running 

 north-east and south-west, four feet, or five, perhaps, will be better. In these 

 rows drop two forkfuls of some rich, well-rotted manure, or a small handful of 

 fertilizer every three feet, mixing well with the soil and make good hills. If the 

 plants can be set in a warm rainy spell it is best, but, if not, then wet the bed 

 thon)ughly, take up as much soil with the plants as i)ossible and set them in the 

 hills. Set again deeper than they were in the bed. 



As soon as the plants are well established begin cultivation. They should 

 be cultivated every four or five days, and the first three workings should bedeej). 

 As soon as suckers appear take them off. This, I think, makes earlier and finer 

 fruit, as it throws more <jf the sap into the fruit. ^\'hen the plants get about 

 fifteen inches high set a stake at each plant and keep it well tied up. As soon 

 as fruit forms go through the rows every fi-w days and take off all suckers and 

 imperfect fruit, for this fruit will not give satisfaction. 



In marketing tomatoes handle them as ( arefully as if they were eggs, and as 

 much as possible sell direct to the ( onsinner. Tikis. I). Haikd. /// OrclhirJ inui 

 Cardcn. 



