ON VEGETABLE CULTURE. 



1075 



to the glass at all times to ensure a strong, sturdy habit. 

 When the seedlings have formed the first rough leaf, they 

 should be transferred singly into small pots properly drained, 

 using a compost of fibrous loam with a little leaf-mould and 

 sharp sand added. As the little pots become full of roots, a 

 shift into 4^in. or 5in. size should be given, using rather less 

 leaf-mould and sand. They should not be potted again until 

 the first truss of flower has appeared, and one or two fruits have 

 set. After this the plants may be transferred into large pots, 

 well drained, or planted out in beds of good soil, free from 

 farmyard manure. Unless several stems or leaders are wanted 

 to the plants, all side shoots are best removed as soon as they 

 appear, thus throwing more strength into the main stem and its 

 fruit. Ventilation requires considerable care, for on that im- 

 portant matter depends in a great measure the success or failure 

 of the crop. A close, moist, stuffy atmosphere brings disease 

 and other evils, and renders a good crop impossible. Plenty of 

 air on all favourable occasions ought to be admitted, and all 

 watering or washing of the floors should be done in the 

 morning, so that the moisture may evaporate before night ; in 

 fact, a dry atmosphere should always be aimed at.' Feeding, 

 again, is a stumbling-block to novices. No feeding with natural 

 or chemical manure is desirable until the plants have commenced 

 fruiting. If done before, a gross growth is made, and fruit is 

 rarely much in evidence ; but when the plants have begun fruiting, 

 stimulants in a diluted form are essential to maintain their 

 strength. 



For outside culture the seed should be sown early in March 

 and grown on as above. By the end of May the plants will 

 have formed and set a truss of fruit ; they may then be turned 

 out of the pots and planted against a warm wall or fence, 

 training them to a single stem, and pinching out all side shoots 

 at once as they form. In ordinary seasons a fair crop of fruit 

 is produced. 



For home or market purposes, Chemin Rouge, Comet, and 

 Dobbie's Champion are all excellent for inside or outdoors. 

 For exhibition. Golden Jubilee, Perfection, and Duke of York 

 are all large, of perfect form, and fine colour ; but to get them 

 extra large the fruits should be thinned freely. 



The pests which give serious trouble to the Tomato- 

 grower are comparatively few ; but fungoid diseases, like the 

 common Black Spot {Macrosporimn tomato) and the formidable 

 Sleeping Disease iyFusaiHiim lycopeisici) are very destructive. 

 Happily, the latter is not common in this country. The chief 

 characteristic of the latter is the collapse of the plant attacked. 

 Treatment is of no avail ; and the only possible measures 

 are precautionary — such as burning the diseased plants in their 

 entirety, treatment of the soil by means of lime, thoroughly 



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