THE TOMATO 195 



between each plant. The stem may appear rather short ; it is, however, long 

 enough at this early season if care is taken to fertilise every flower which 

 opens. Having repotted the plants into their fruiting pots, and placed them 

 in the house where they are to fruit, endeavour to encourage sturdy growth 

 by the free admission of air. At the same time the temperature of the house 

 should be kept warm enough to bring about the ripening of the fruits as 

 early in spring as possible. From plants grown from seed sown on the ist 

 of January I have gathered ripe tomatoes in fair quantity towards the 

 end of March. Tomatoes under glass in quantities are produced with most 

 difficulty from early in February to the middle of April. They can be had 

 during this time, but in consequence of growth taking place during the dull 

 winter months, the quality of the fruits is poor as compared with fruits from 

 young plants sown in the New Year. This early crop we have been con- 

 sidering will have ripened, the plants be cleared away, and the house ready for 

 the next crop by the end of May. 



SuccEssioNAL Crops. — Before we proceed to plant again I would say 

 that where the fruit is required for home consumption only, the question 

 of successional crops and an unbroken supply must have due consideration, and 

 therefore the house in which the plants are grown must be divided into two, or 

 even three, sections, the second being planted from a month to six weeks after 

 the first, and the third the same period after the second. By this means a con- 

 tinued supply is secured throughout the year. As I have said before, tomatoes 

 can be grown in pots in many odd corners of fruit houses, where they will 

 succeed very well. We now have to consider planting the early house the 

 second time, say on the ist June, and the question arises, shall we grow the 

 summer crop of tomatoes in pots or planted out ? I prefer to plant them in 

 a border on the floor of the house. I think a heavier crop of fruit is to be 

 obtained this way with considerably less labour. It is a mistake to suppose 

 that the tomato requires a large amount of soil to root into. The best 

 method is first to place a layer of stable litter and leaves mixed together upon 

 the floor; this should be about 10 inches or a foot thick when well pressed 

 down. Upon this place a layer of turf, and then the soil (about 9 inches 

 deep) in which the plants are to be planted. It should consist of loam three 

 parts, fresh horse manure one part, with bone dust in the proportion of half a 

 bag to a cartload. To plant a house on the ist June the plants should be at 

 least 18 inches high, strong and sturdy, with a few fruits set on each. By 

 having strong plants ready for each successive crop, the productive capacity of 

 the house is increased by at least one-fourth. The plants should be put in rows 

 about 15 inches apart, with the same distance between each plant. After 

 planting they should be secured to stakes, or string fastened to a peg in the 

 border, and to the trellis near the roof, and tied to these as they grow. The 

 plants should have a good watering a few hours before they are planted. 



General Treatment. — The treatment after planting is very simple, 

 indeed a repetition of that advised in the case of the first crop, that is, to main- 

 tain a warm, moist atmosphere, admitting air on all favourable occasions. In 

 watering, take care not to saturate the soil, especially before the border is well 



