TOMATO 261 
cyanic gas, may practically ruin a crop. Skillful water- 
ing, heating, ventilating and pollinating are required to 
obtain a satisfactory setting of fruit. While serious 
difficulties may exist, there are now many growers who 
are experts in forcing this crop, and they have little fear 
of failure because they are thoroughly conversant with 
the numerous cultural details that must have close 
attention. 
Southern competition should be considered in this 
connection. The tomato pays best as a spring forcing 
crop, and then the northern greenhouse product invari- 
ably comes into competition with tomatoes shipped from 
Florida and other southern points. While forced to- 
matoes, during the spring and early summer, un- 
doubtedly command lower prices on account of southern 
competition, the greenhouse crop is so superior in quality 
and is grown at a cost so low that the fruit may be sold 
at comparatively low prices, say 10 cents a pound, and 
still leave a satisfactory margin of profit. 
The tomato is an important vegetable for forcing be- 
cause it fits so well into the rotation of greenhouse crops. 
Lettuce, radishes and cauliflower may be grown during 
the duller weather of the fall and winter, and tomatoes, 
set in the beds about March 1, will come into bearing the 
latter part of May and continue to produce until 
August 15. The spring crop is not so difficult to grow, 
and any careful gardener may be reasonably certain of 
success. 
Hundreds of greenhouses are now devoted to the 
forcing of tomatoes. Some of the ranges occupy several 
acres of land. A small percentage of the growers pro- 
duce tomatoes throughout the forcing season. Some 
grow them only in the fall and occasionally at mid- 
winter, but the majority find that it is most satisfactory 
to use the houses for cool crops until spring and then to 
plant tomatoes, which are marketed mainly during the 
months of June and July. 
