96 
Practical  Hints  on  Vegetable  Farming. 
unsuitable  conditions  allow  it  to  revert  at  once  to  its  uncultivated 
state:  hence  frequent  failures  in  gardens.  Success  in  the  culture 
of  Turnips  depends  mainly  upon  an  abundant  supply  of  manure 
and  water.  Turnips  realise  prices  varying  from  a shilling  to 
four  shillings  per  bushel,  consequently  it  is  sometimes  a very 
profitable  catch  crop.  Early  Turnips  are  usually  the  most 
profitable,  and  if  Early  Purple-top  Milan  is  sown  upon  good 
soil  in  A[)ril  there  is  usually  a good  crop  for  sale  therefrom 
early  in  June.  The  same  variety  also  ])roduces  good  results 
when  sown  in  July  or  August.  Early  Snowball  and  Model 
White  Stone  are  very  good  mid-season  varieties. 
Tomato. — The  Tomato  is  a wholesome  and  medicinal  fruit, 
very  prolific,  and  easily  cultivated.  It  is  closely  allied  to  the 
potato,  and  may  be  successfully  grafted  upon  it.  Like  the 
potato,  it  does  not  thrive  in  a low  temperature  or  a wet  soil, 
but  prospers  in  warm  and  fresh  air  and  in  soil  moist,  firm,  yet 
friable.  Tomatoes  grow  well  and  rii)en  fruit  in  the  open  air  in 
warm  districts,  and  when  planted  against  walls,  sheds,  and 
wooden  fences  they  are  generally  successful.  But  the  greatest 
success  is  achieved  when  they  are  grown  in  suitably  constructed 
glass  houses,  which  should  admit  a ma.ximum  of  light  and  of 
fresh  air  under  the  control  of  the  cultivator.  If  such  houses 
are  fitted  with  sufficient  hot  water  piping  to  maintain  a mean 
temperature  of  55"E.  in  winter  and  68"  F.  in  summer  they  will 
be  perfect  houses  for  the  purpose.  Given  such  glass  structures 
and  intelligent  management,  there  are  few,  if  any,  crops  more 
profitable. 
Tomatoes  are  also  a [)rofitable  out-door  crop  in  favourable 
seasons  ; but  in  unfavourable  seasons  like  that  ,of  1903 
there  is  a large  element  of  risk  and  uncertainty.  Whether 
they  are  grown  under  glass  or  in  the  open  air  the  same 
fundamental  principles  of  successful  cultivation  a{)ply  in  each 
case : the  plants  must  be  grown  robustly  from  the  germination 
of  the  seed  to  the  ripening  of  the  fruit.  Sturdiness  is  obtained 
by  su])plying  food,  air,  and  light  in  abundance,  and  warmth  to 
the  required  extent. 
whether  for  early  croj)s  or  main  crops  the  seed  should  be 
sown  thiidy — about  an  inch  apart  is  correct.  When  the  seed 
germinates,  and  the  young  ])lants  ap|)ear  above  the  soil,  they 
are  not  overcrowded.  When  the  second  rough  leaf  appears 
they  should  be  transplanted  into  boxes  or  small  pots,  and  kept 
growing  within  a foot  or  eighteen  inches  of  the  glass.  In 
two  or  three  weeks  they  will  be  ready  for  placing  in  pots 
