452 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
cities, and is grown extensively in the South to supply 
the northern trade. Thousands of acres are planted an- 
nually for canning and catsup. The home garden always 
contains at least a few tomato plants. The fruit is now 
so popular that hundreds of greenhouses are devoted to 
its culture to supply the trade during the winter or 
cooler seasons of the year. It is also an exceedingly 
popular fruit or vegetable in many foreign countries. 
645. Climate. — The tomato is readily injured by cold. 
It requires rather high temperatures and plenty of sun- 
shine for its best development. Eighty to 90 degrees 
during the day and 15 to 20 lower at night provide the 
most suitable growing temperatures. Daily sunshine is 
always an advantage. Notwithstanding the fact that 
these conditions are important, the crop is grown under 
a wide range of climatic conditions. Good local mar- 
kets often make it profitable to sow very early in hot- 
beds or greenhouses, the plants being kept under glass 
until they have formed several clusters of flowers, and 
perhaps developed a few green tomatoes. (649.) As the 
plants are tender to frost they should never be planted 
in the open ground until after danger of injury from 
this source has passed. The crop should be matured 
and harvested, if possible, before there is much danger 
of destructive frosts in the fall. 
Sudden changes in temperature are a disadvantage, 
especially decided drops, because they check growth and 
may permanently impair the fruiting qualities of the 
plants. A medium rainfall is essential. The crop fares 
best when the precipitation is well distributed through- 
out the season. 
646. Soils. — A deep, fertile, sandy loam with a well- 
drained clay subsoil, undoubtedly provides the best con- 
ditions for the culture of tomatoes. The crop, however, 
is grown successfully on a great variety of soil types. 
Tracy (“Tomato Culture,” p. 33) records: “Of the 10 
