ON FARM GARDENING. 67 
to which the tomato is liable, the blight, is encouraged, if 
not wholly caused by too early planting in the open ground. 
Varieties and Planting — At 4 feet apart each way, it 
will require about 2,700 tomato plants for an acre of land. 
In open field culture the tomato is always allowed to lie upon 
the ground. In garden culture, it is often tied to stakes or 
supported on trellises. Three ounces of seed will raise suffi- 
cient plants for an acre. 
There are many varieties of tomatoes, including the early 
and late market sorts, the yellow kinds, and the little pear- 
shaped and plum-shaped tomatoes, both red and yellow, used 
in pickling. The ideal market tomato is one of medium size 
and smooth shape. It must have firmness and depth, and 
the quality of ripening evenly all over. There should be 
neither greenness nor wrinkles around the calyx, nor should 
the fruit be of irregular shape. As to color, it is a matter 
of taste and neighborhood preference. Some markets de- 
mand red and some purple fruit. 
Successional Planting — If the first tomato plants be set 
in the open ground (at Philadelphia) May 15th to 20th, 
there should be at least one and preferably two later crops, 
because young, vigorous plants yield the most and best fruit. 
It is good practice to sow tomato seed in the open ground, 
say about middle of May, and again somewhat later. These 
out-of-door plants will come forward very rapidly, and will 
be ready to produce late summer and autumn crops. 
Cultivation. —The tomato is of the easiest cultivation, 
and will grow even under neglect, but it so abundantly re- 
pays attention, that no farmer can afford to be careless about 
Squash. — Early varieties — Mammoth White Bush Scalloped, Giant 
Summer Crookneck. Winter-keeping varieties — Sweet Nut, Faxon, 
Chicago Warted, Hubbard, Early Prolific Orange Marrow. For de- 
scriptions, see "Johnson & Stokes' Garden and Farm Manual." 
