342 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



by this minute pest are practically failures, soon 

 ceasing to make any further progress. The 

 small thread-like worms pierce and deposit their 

 eggs on cysts in the Tomato roots, causing galls 

 or knots to form which paralyse the roots and 

 deprive the plants of their assistance while form- 

 ing crops of fruits. A more deadly species of 

 eel-worm, known as Tylenchus obtusus, destroys 

 the bark and soft tissues of the stems below the 

 surface, flagging leaves being the first intima- 

 tion of the attack. Both species are difficult to 

 cope with. All that can be done is to keep the 

 soil about the roots steadily moist, and to apply 

 lime-water occasionally, or, better still, Little's 

 Soluble Phenyle, at the rate of 1 oz. to 6 gallons 

 of soft water. Neither lime-water nor soluble 

 phenyle will wholly check the ravages of eel- 

 worms, but they serve to keep the roots active 

 long enough to save the crop. 



Thorough preventive measures should be 

 adopted the following autumn or winter, or the 

 chances are that eel-worms will be even more 

 destructive the following season. Where possible 

 all the old soil should be cleared out, the beds 

 limed, and the walls lime-washed. If the new 

 compost prepared has been well frozen through 

 that would clear it of eel-worms, and, failing 

 this, add enough newly-slaked lime to whiten it. 

 Market-growers could not well clear out their 

 large borders and substitute new soil, and the 

 only way out of the difficulty is to trench the 

 ground well, mixing 2 lbs. of basic slag and 12 

 ozs. of kainit with every square yard of border. 

 This ought to be done at least six weeks prior 

 to planting Tomatoes in the ground, as these 

 manurial insecticides when first applied in such 

 excessive quantities are liable to be somewhat 

 destructive to plant as well as to insect life. 



Wire-worms are destructive to Tomato plants 

 planted in newly-broken-up ground, eating their 

 way into and up through the centre of the 

 stems, flagging foliage being the first signs of 

 their presence. At this stage there is no remedy, 

 quite large plants having in many instances to 

 be pulled up wholesale and replaced with healthy 

 plants. Gas-lime mixed with fresh soil at the 

 rate of 1 half-peck to 12 bushels of soil, or well- 

 mixed with soil in borders at the rate of 1 peck 

 to the square rod of ground, helps to clear the 

 soil of wire-worms; but ground treated with this 

 kind of insecticide cannot safely be cropped for 

 at least six weeks after its application, or until 

 the poisonous properties are got rid of. Super- 

 phosphate of lime is both distasteful to wire- 

 worms and a good manure for Tomatoes, but 

 it cannot be termed a really effective remedy. 



Trapping is the only safe and perfect remedy, 

 and this should commence either in advance of 

 or simultaneously with planting. Short (2-inch) 

 lengths of carrot, each with a label or stick 

 thrust into it, ought to be inserted with the 

 aid of a trowel just below the surface of the 

 ground and 2 feet or so apart, and in these the 

 wire-worms will assuredly collect. Eveiy second 

 day is often enough to raise and examine the 

 carrots, the wire- worms being found sticking 

 out of them. They should be destroyed, and 

 the carrots returned to the ground. 



Selection of Twenty-four Vaeieties. 



Best of All (fig. 1115). — Sets freely and is an immense 

 cropper, producing heavy bunches of fruit at short inter- 

 vals all over the plant. Excellent in form, of good size, 

 solid ; colour deep-scarlet. 



Blenheim Orange. — A somewhat strong grower, the fruit 

 setting freely under glass, not so freely in the open. Fruit 

 large, round, smooth, good form, bright - yellow faintly 

 flushed with red, solid, of fine flavour; averaging four to 

 a cluster. 



Champion. — Sturdy growing and free setting both under 

 glass and in the open. Fruit of medium size, round, 

 smooth, deep-scarlet ; averaging five inside and nine out- 

 side to a cluster. Ripens in the open first week in August. 

 One of the best for all purposes. 



Chiswick Dessert. — Fairly robust. Fruit rather small, 

 round, smooth, scarlet; averaging eight in a cluster; solid, 

 of fine flavour. A heavy cropper inside, of no value out- 

 side. 



Duke of York. — Strong grower, but not free in setting. 

 Fruit large, flattish round, smooth, scarlet; averaging three 

 to a cluster; of good form and fair flavour. 



Dwarf Gem (fig. 1107). — Plant seldom exceeds 1\ feet 

 in height; foliage large, dark, curled, the plant presenting 

 a very striking appearance. The pale-yellow fruits are 

 perfect in form, and borne in immense clusters. 



Early Ruby. — A dwarf grower and very free setter. 

 Fruit medium, uneven, some fruits smooth, others corru- 

 gated, particularly outside, deep-red; averaging five to a 

 cluster. One of the best for the open air, the fruit com- 

 mencing to ripen late in July. 



Frogmore Selected. — A strong grower and heavy cropper. 

 Fruit medium to large, deep, round, slightly corrugated, 

 handsome, scarlet; averaging six to a cluster; solid, good 

 flavour. Good both under glass and in the open. 



Golden Jubilee. — Plant robust and free bearing under 

 glass, but no good in the open. Fruit large, round, deep- 

 yellow suffused with red, smooth, handsome; averaging 

 five to a cluster; solid, fine flavour. 



Golden Nugget. — A moderately strong grower, free 

 setting and distinctly ornamental both under glass and in 

 the open. Fruit small, roundish - oval, smooth, bright- 

 yellow; averaging eight to a cluster; solid, fine flavour. 



Ham Green Favourite. — Moderately strong growing and 

 more reliable than Chemin Rouge, which it resembles. 

 Fruit large, flattish-round, smooth, deep-scarlet; averaging 

 seven to a cluster; solid, good flavour. A heavy cropper 

 inside and outside. 



Holmes' Supreme. — Of sturdy habit with rather finely- 

 cut leaves; setting freely under glass and in the open. 

 Fruit medium, round, smooth, bright-red; averaging nine 



