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April to $6 to $8, and by May to $5, after which they are likely to 

 arrive in a damaged condition and be worthless. 



Prices of seed — American 30 to 60 cents per ounce ; French 3d. to 

 1/ per ounce. 



Tomatoes. 



Sow seed at the beginning of each month from August to January, 

 to have fruit for shipping from end of October or beginning of 

 November till the following April 



The seed should be sown in prepared beds or in boxes, and as soon as 

 the plants are a couple of inches high they should be pricked off into 

 another bed, a few inches apart, when they have attained a height of 

 about 6 inches they may be planted out. If the seeds have not been 

 sown too thickly the young plants may be allowed to remain in the 

 original bed or box till they are strong enough to be transplanted at 

 once to their permanent positions. They like a light, sandy well 

 manured soil. They should be planted about three feet apart in rows 

 which should be about four feet asunder. A strong stake should be 

 driven in at the root of each to tie the plants to, and particular 

 attention should be paid to stopping the lateral growths to throw all 

 the strength into the main stem. The tomato is a gross feeder and 

 should be liberally supplied with rich mulching material, and irrigated 

 freely till the fruit begins to ripen, when they should be kept rather 

 dry at the roots. 



Messrs. Landreth and Son's state that " Southern Florida Tomatoes 

 reach Philadelphia in February , and command %lf, to $6 per bushel. By 

 April the rate declines to $3 to $5, and continues to decline to June, 

 after which they fail to meet the cost of transportation." 



This would probably prove to be one of the most easily managed and 

 profitable crops that can be raised here during the winter months, but 

 great care and judgment would need to be exercised in picking, pack- 

 ing and forwarding, to ensure the fruit arriving at its destination in 

 first class condition. Immense quantities of tomatoes are consumed in 

 the United States, and during the winter months shippers of good fruit 

 might rely on meeting a ready and profitable market. 



Quantity of seed. — Half an ounce of seed will produce 750 plants. 



Varieties. — These are so numerous that it is a somewhat difficult 

 matter to make a selection, the following however, are recommended : 

 — Carter's Perfection (a winner of 38 first prizes at Horticultural 

 Shows), Carter's Dedham Favourite (a winner of 22 first prizes), 

 Carter's Market Favourite, Harefield Gem, Carter's Sandicich Island 

 (specially recommended as being better suited for long journeys, and 

 rough handling than the general run of tomatoes), Ham Green 

 Favourite, Trophy, Acme, Chiswick Red, Duke of York, (new variety). 

 Carter's Blenheim Orange (described by the late Mr. Shirley Hibberd 

 as "the Queen of tomatoes"), The Mikado, Table Queen, Ponderosa, 

 Trophy extra selected, Early Bermuda, Early Jersey, The Money Maker. 



Prices of seed — English seed ranges in price from 6d. to 3/6 per 

 packet ; American seed from 5 to 25 cents per packet, or from 30 to 

 60 cents per ounce. 



Musk Melons. 



Plant seeds at beginning of each month from August to January, to 

 keep up a supply of fruit from November till the following April. 



