708 



THE VEGETABLE GARDE 



20 to 32 in. apart, according to the variety. As soon as the plants 

 have grown from 16 to 20 in. high, each of them should be sup- 

 ported either with a single stake, or with a series of stakes fastened 

 together and forming a kind of trellis, upon which the branches of 

 the plant are tied. The latest varieties would be all the better for 

 being planted at the foot of a wall or other shelter with a warm 

 aspect. In these varieties, too, it is advisable to limit the pro- 

 duction of the fruit to a certain number by pinching off all the late 

 flowers. It is also a good plan, sometimes, to pinch some of the 

 shoots ; but that should be done with discretion, so as not to leave 

 the plant too bare of leaves. Under this mode of culture, the 

 earliest varieties will commence to yield fruit in the course of 

 August, and produce them all through the autumn. When frosty 

 weather approaches, any fruit that are full-grown but not yet 

 coloured may be cut off, branches and all, and stored in a dry 

 room, where they will duly ripen. Ripe Tomatoes may be obtained 

 as early as the latter end of April by means of forcing. In this 

 case the plants are grown entirely in hot-beds. The first sowings 

 are made in September, but more usually in January. The 

 seedlings are pricked out, and also permanently planted out in 

 hot-beds, always under the same conditions, four plants to each 

 light. As the plants require a good deal of heat, the beds should 

 be surrounded with linings of manure, which can be renewed at 

 pleasure. Plants thus formed are usually not allowed to bear more 

 than two branches, which are attached horizontally to a wire or a 

 strong cord running from one end of the bed to the other, and as 

 near the glass as possible. Until the fruit is formed and com- 

 mencing to ripen, other plants are usually grown in the hot-beds 

 along with the Tomatoes, thus utilising the heat and also the space 

 which is not yet filled up by the principal crop. 



In Great Britain of late years the 

 culture of Tomatoes has spread very 

 much, though far from, as yet, being 

 able to meet the demand for the 

 fruit. The climate is one of the 

 worst possible for Tomatoes, yet, 

 notwithstanding, our gardening re- 

 sources and skill are such that much 

 excellent fruit is grown. To raise 

 it, however, is not so simple as in 

 America, where over a vast range of 

 the continent the Tomato is one 

 of the most easily grown field crops. 

 Some general idea of the most suc- 

 cessful methods pursued in British 

 gardens is therefore desirable here. 

 Those situated in the southern coun- 



ties of England and Ireland have a 

 considerable advantage in Tomato 

 culture over those in the north. 

 'Mi: Hobday, growing them in a 

 by no means favourable district, 

 may be taken as a trustworthy 

 guide for private garden practice, 

 which, however, varies much and 

 is improved year by year : 



" Sow the seeds in February or 

 early in March in pots or pans ; 

 cover lightly with sand or sandy 

 soil, and place in a hot-bed near 

 the glass. When the young plants 

 appear, move them to a warm house, 

 where they will be near the glass, 

 to get hardened by light and ex- 



