LESSONS OiS^ TOMATOES FOR EUEAL SCHOOLS. 9 



LESSON FIVE. 



TOPIC: PLACE OF TOMATOES IN THE ROTATION. 



month: SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER. 



Lesson outline. — Toinatoes should not be grown on the same land 

 year after year, as some diseases live over winter in the soil and 

 injm:"e the new crop. The soil should be kept in good condition by 

 including in the rotation leguminous crops. Potatoes, eggplants, and 

 peppers should not follow tomatoes, as some of the same diseases 

 affect all these plants. A cover crop of crimson clover, rye, or oats 

 and vetch should follow the tomato crop. A crop of beans, peas, 

 cabbage, or corn should precede tomatoes. 



Study questions. — Why should tomatoes not be grown on the same 

 land year after year? What msect pests and diseases of tomatoes 

 are found in the community? What place does the tomato occupy 

 in the rotation practiced in the community. Name a good rotation 

 course including tomatoes for a garden or a small plat; for field 

 crops. 



References . — Farmers' Bui. 642, p. 8. Write to the State coUege of 

 agriculture for suggestions as to a rotation including tomatoes. 



Practical exercises. — Club members and pupils with home work 

 should plant on their plats a cover crop of crimson clover, rye, or 

 oats and vetch. 



Correlations. — Written work is provided in preparing statements of 

 rotation courses. 



Drawing. — Have members of the class draw to scale an outline of a 

 plat of ground containing three-tenths of an acre. Make three divi- 

 sions of this and indicate on the divisions the crops of a three-year 

 rotation mcluding tomatoes. 



Arithmetic: If the plat containing three-tenths of an acre is 36 

 yards wide, how long is it? How many square feet m a tenth of an 

 acre ? If a tenth of an acre is 33 feet wide, what is its length ? 



LESSON SIX. 



TOPIC: HOTBED AND COLD FRAME. 



month: JANUARY OR FEBRUARY. 



Lesson outline. — Hotbed: The advantages of the hotbed are: (1) 

 Tender plants may be started early; (2) tender plants started in the 

 hotbed have the start of weeds when transplanted; (3) early vege- 

 tables are made possible ; and (4) plants grown to considerable size in 

 hotbed are not so subject to attacks of insects and diseases. 



The points to be observed in locating the hotbed are (1) nearness 

 to the water supply, (2) convenience to garden and farm buildings, 

 (3) protection from cold winds by buildings, fences, or hedges, 

 and (4) good drainage with southern or southeastern exposure. 



The materials used in making a hotbed are (1) manure, a good pro- 

 portion of which should be fresh and so thoroughly mixed as to be 

 47093°— Bull. 392—16 -2 



