CHAPTER XVII 
TOMATO 
History.—Practically no tomatoes were forced in this 
country for commercial purposes previous to 1890. A 
grower here and there would have a few dozen or per- 
haps a few hundred plants, but tomato forcing did not 
become an industry of real importance until about 1900. 
Small areas were planted in the greenhouses of many of 
the agricultural colleges during that decade, and the 
bulletins and articles published relating to the experi- 
ments attracted the attention of market gardeners, and 
no doubt influenced many of them to make small plant- 
ings under glass, the results of which eventually led to 
the forcing of the crop on a large commercial scale. 
Twenty-five or more years ago a few bearing tomato 
plants were often seen in conservatories of the wealthier 
classes, but the idea of commercializing the proposition 
apparently occurred to very few growers before 1890. 
Importance.—As stated on a previous page, the tomato 
is now one of the three most important vegetable-forcing 
crops. Lettuce ranks first, cucumber second and the 
tomato third, and the tomato is increasing in importance 
every year. So far as consumers are concerned, it is a 
more popular vegetable than the cucumber, and some 
growers believe that it will ultimately occupy first place 
in commercial importance. 
It is a more difficult crop to grow under glass than 
either lettuce or cucumbers. It requires much more heat 
than lettuce and closer attention than the cucumber. It 
is regarded by many as a hazardous crop, especially in 
the fall and winter. Great care is required in order to 
avoid serious attacks of various diseases. The white fly, 
unless the houses are properly fumigated with hydro- 
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