124 GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 



not much larger than a cherry. For a long time, indeed, it 

 was regarded merely as a curiosity, and was called love apple. 

 As its ancestry suggests, it needs a warm spot in which 

 to ripen. In fact, north of the city of New York it cannot 

 usually be planted in the open and have time to bear before 

 frost ; so plants are started in the house or in a hot frame 

 early in March, transplanted when they begin to crowd, and 

 set out not earlier than the middle of May. In order to 

 develop stocky plants, three transplantings are usually not 

 too many. If a cold snap should come upon them suddenly, 

 they must not be expected to shift for themselves, but should 

 be protected with newspapers or some such covering ; still, 

 on the whole, it is best not to be rash in setting them out too 

 early. In estimating how much seed to plant, it is convenient 

 to remember that an ounce of seed will produce more than 

 two thousand plants ; and twenty plants will usually pro- 

 duce more fruit than one family can possibly use, including 

 enough to can. 



Tending tomato plants requires judgment. In setting them 

 out select the spot carefully and choose a warm place pro- 

 tected by a windbreak. Prepare the soil with thoroughly 

 rotted barn manure ; dig holes at least one and one-half feet 

 apart, and unless the soil is moist, fill with water ; then slide 

 each seedling carefully into its hole. When the earth has 

 been properly firmed and mulched, scatter, but not too near, 

 a spoonful of nitrate of soda ; then water the plants once 

 again. Protect them from sun and wind ; give them air and 

 not too much manure ; be sure not to let the plants spindle, 

 — we can guess why. ■ As the fruit matures, tie the main 

 stem to a stout stake, or to a trellis three or four feet high, 

 which has been driven into the ground near the plant. Pinch 

 off all unnecessary foliage and keep the main stem down 

 to three feet. Some say pinch back lateral shoots until the 



