358 



SEEDS AND SEED-GROWING. 



date is quite likely, although we have no mention of 

 them, other than that there were "the common large 

 red love apple, the yellow love apple and the smaller 

 love apple." However this may be, certain it is that all 

 our new varieties are descendents from these, either by 

 seedlings, or, as it is claimed in the case of the Ignotum, 

 as a " sport. " 



It matters little how any given variety originated, other 

 than to show how types can be secured and retained. It 

 is a general impression that the varieties have a natural 

 tendency to deterioration, and that new ones must be 

 produced from seed to replace them. To this grave 

 error let us reply, by saying that varieties do not run 

 out, provided proper care is taken to keep them up. 



The writer saw the operations of one of the largest 

 tomato seed growers in our country, last year. In a field 

 of ten or more acres, there was not a single plant of 

 which the fruit should have been saved for seed pur- 

 poses. Everything had a starved appearance, a fact the 

 grower acknowledged, as he got more seed on poor than 

 on rich soil. There was no care whatever in selec- 

 tion ; ripe and unripe fruit was put into the crusher, and 

 the seed all saved. He admitted this was no way to 

 grow and save seeds, "but," he asked, "what could I 

 do, for the price ?" The price was not more than half 

 what it actually costs to produce good seed. In this case, 

 and it is a rule that will apply to all others, competition 

 was the parent of deterioration. 



On the other hand, the finest crop of tomatoes I ever 

 saw growing, without regard to variety, was of the Tro- 

 phy, and that only last season, which was generally con- 

 sidered the most tmfavorable for the tomato that we have 

 had for many years. The grower of these, a man of rare 

 intelligence, bought the seed from Mr. Waring the first 

 year he sent it out, and he has not grown any other since, 

 but has each year carefully selected the best for seed 

 purposes. The result is an improvement. The fruits 

 are more even in shape and size ; they ripen up to the 

 stem perfectly, and what is more important, they ripen 

 to the center, producing but little seed. A fault with 

 this variety when first introduced was that the center 

 was hard and unpalatable. The same care this grower 

 gave this variety will improve any other, if the same is 

 grown under favorable conditions. If on a very heavy 

 clay or in very light sandy soil, an improvement in the 

 tomato is impossible. 



Another experiment or case noted was with the Acme, 

 one of the best for the table, although its color is not a 

 favorite one with the market gardener. A practical flor- 

 ist has grown this variety alone since its introduction, 

 and has taken special care in selecting his fruits for seed. 

 The crop of last year on about twenty plants was mar- 

 vellous. Four of the tomatoes, not above the average 

 in size, weighed four pounds; and this strain ripens 

 perfectly, and is free from rot or cracking, to which the 

 Acme is liable. 



CULTURE. 



While the tomato will produce a fair crop under almost 

 any circumstances, there is no crop that will more amply 



repay good care and attention. The soil best suited to it 

 is a light loam, which should be, for a general crop, 

 made rich ; in fact there is no possibility of getting it too 

 rich, if the plants can have light and air in proportion. 

 The finest crop we have ever seen grown was produced 

 as follows : The hills, eight feet apart each way, were 

 dug out to the depth of two feet ; in the bottom of each 

 was put half a bushel of well rotted manure, which was 

 well packed down ; the hole was then filled with loam 

 and manure in equal proportions. The plants (Trophy) 

 were started in a hot-bed, and transferred to hills the 

 first week in June. The plants were set with care, so 

 that they did not receive a check in growth, and came 

 quickly into fruit, the six hills producing more fruit than 

 the family of eight persons could consume. 



For field culture the soil should be plowed deep, the 

 manure being applied broadcast. Harrow smooth, and 

 mark out the hills six feet apart each way ; and at the 

 bottom of each hill put in an additional shovel of well 

 rotted manure, which should be well incorporated into 

 the soil. In setting the plants always puddle them in, 

 using at least a pint of water to each plant ; press the 

 earth, or mud, firmly about the plant ; then cover the 

 surface with dry soil, very loose. This may seem ex- 

 pensive, and so it is. To set an acre of plants in this 

 way will cost four times as much as in the ordinary way, 

 but the yield will be more than double. An acre will 

 produce, if the soil is suitable, with the application of 

 fifty dollars' worth of manure, 800 bushels, which is more 

 than double^ perhaps treble as much as can be grown 

 when planted in the ordinary manner. 



STARTING THE PLANTS. 



The usual custom of sowing tomato seed thickly in the 

 greenhouse and hot-bed, is one that should not be fol- 

 lowed, as the plants grown in that manner are usually 

 inferior to those that nature produces by her own sowing 

 in the open ground. Much can be gained by sowing the 

 seed about the first of April in a frame, or in a green- 

 house without artificial heat. A gain of four weeks is 

 possible, but to secure that the plants must be properly 

 handled. They must be pricked out as soon as they 

 have made the second pair of leaves, into shallow boxes 

 of light soil, or what is better, into thumb pots. If in 

 boxes, the plants should be two inches apart each way, 

 and they must be given all the light and air possible, 

 when the temperature will warrant it, in order that they 

 may make short and vigorous plants. When three inches 

 high they will require another shift ; in the boxes set 

 them three inches apart each way, in which they can 

 grow until removed to the field or garden. The plants 

 in pots should be frequently shifted, never allowing them 

 to become root-bound ; they should, moreover, have all 

 the room that can be conveniently given them, but it will 

 answer if the pots touch each other. 



Although this may seem an expensive way of produc- 

 ing plants, where early fruit is wanted it is economical. 

 For field culture, plants may be started in a cold-frame 

 by sowing the seed about the middle of April, covering 



