3^2 Tomato Culture. [JULy 



ciently close planting if adequate ventilation is to be maintained. 

 With this method the outside and inner rows only should be 

 run up the roof, the other row or rows being stopped when the 

 glass is reached. 



Watering As soon as the plants permit, usually about a 



fortnight after planting out, or when the first truss of fruit is 

 set, a mulching of straw manure should be given. In addition 

 to supplying rnanurial material, mulching has an important 

 effect on the water supply of the plants. It prevents rapid 

 evaporation, and by keeping the surface of the soil in an open 

 and moist condition encourages the roots to develop in the 

 surface of the soil, where they are more easily controlled. 



When the soil contains a plentiful supply of manure, water 

 should be given very sparingly until the first truss is set, as 

 otherwise there is a danger of the plants making a very rank 

 growth and failing to set the first and second trusses. Where 

 the soil is well drained a liberal supply of water should be given, 

 not in frequent doles which only wet the surface, but in heavy 

 waterings two or three times a week, according to the weather. 

 When possible, it should be done on bright, dry days, in order 

 that full ventilation can be given to disperse the damp air 

 produced by the watering. Water, whenever possible, should 

 be of the same temperature as the house, as cold water tends to 

 check growth. 



Stopping.— Ail lateral growth: si ould be removed as the plant 

 progresses, but on the question of " stopping " there are diverse 

 opinions. Some urge that the plant should have further 

 growth stopped as soon as the glass is reached, in order that 

 all energy may be devoted to the maturing of the fruit already 

 set. Others allow the plants to run up the wires and form a 

 thick mass of vegetation, in order to crop as long as possible. 

 Given a deep and rich soil at the start it is possible to run the 

 plants on and get fruits which will average 6 to 8 to the lb., 

 but if there is not enough body in the soil to do this, " chats " 

 only result, and it is better to " stop " and clear the house for 

 another crop. 



Manuring. — Two distinct methods of manuring are in vogue, 

 each of which has its supporters. The first is the addition to 

 the soil of a sufficient supply of manure to serve the crop to the 

 end, and the second is to plant in unnianured soil afterwards, 

 feeding with frequent top dressings of soluble manures. Both 

 methods produce successful results, but the writer is onvinced 

 that a longer crop finishing with good fruit is obtained by the 

 first method. When the plants are old they do not seem to 

 respond fully to the application of top dressings. 



