124 
GARDENS AND THEIR MEANING 
not much larger than a cherry. For a long time, indeed, it 
was regarded merely as a curiosity, and was called love apple. 
As its ancestry suggests, it needs a warm spot in which 
to ripen. In fact, north of the city of New York it cannot 
usually be planted in the open and have time to bear before 
frost ; so plants are started in the house or in a hot frame 
early in March, transplanted when they begin to crowd, and 
set out not earlier than the middle of May. In order to 
develop stocky plants, three transplantings are usually not 
too many. If a cold snap should come upon them suddenly, 
they must not be expected to shift for themselves, but should 
be protected with newspapers or some such covering ; still, 
on the whole, it is best not to be rash in setting them out too 
early. In estimating how much seed to plant, it is convenient 
to remember that an ounce of seed will produce more than 
two thousand plants ; and twenty plants will usually pro- 
duce more fruit than one family can possibly use, including 
enough to can. 
Tending tomato plants requires judgment. In setting them 
out select the spot carefully and choose a warm place pro- 
tected by a windbreak. Prepare the soil with thoroughly 
rotted barn manure ; dig holes at least one and one-half feet 
apart, and unless the soil is moist, fill with water ; then slide 
each seedling carefully into its hole. When the earth has 
been properly firmed and mulched, scatter, but not too near, 
a spoonful of nitrate of soda ; then water the plants once 
again. Protect them from sun and wind ; give them air and 
not too much manure ; be sure not to let the plants spindle, 
— we can guess why. As the fruit matures, tie the main 
stem to a stout stake, or to a trellis three or four feet high, 
which has been driven into the ground near the plant. Pinch 
off all unnecessary foliage and keep the main stem down 
to three feet. Some say pinch back lateral shoots until the 
