October 2 , 1890. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
287 
ever welcome C. speciosus is the only one which has as yet favoured 
'Us with a display of its beauty. 
Some of the Tritomas are as fine as when I wrote last, and the 
late Asters are coming well into flower. One fine seedling, which 
■grows about 6 feet high with me, is very good at present. It forms 
a pyramid of lilac flowers, clustered, like most of the others, so 
thickly as to hide the foliage. A. amellus, the neatest and best of 
all to my mind, is coming well into bloom, and several others have 
opened a few flowers. Many have a considerable resemblance to 
each other, but when seen at a little distance the points of differ- 
>once are more noticeable. The Mossy Saxifrages are assuming the 
•beautiful greenness which renders them so valuable throughout the 
winter months, the finest in this respect at the present time being 
S. tenuifolia. Rudbeckia Newmanni remains unapproachable for 
beauty by all others among the host of yellow composites. There 
os something exceedingly attractive in the bright orange rays and 
•intensely dark centre. The queen of the early Chrysanthemums, 
Madame C. Desgranges, with its yellow sport G. Wermig, lightens 
up the border. I have not as yet grown Mrs. Burrell, but hope to 
test it another season. Gladioli are nearly past, the later sorts 
being comparatively useless with us in the north, and the garden is 
beginning gradually to assume a more sombre hue.—S. Arnott. 
OUTDOOR TOMATOES. 
I ONLY venture a line on this subject because I have not seen 
any outdoor Tomatoes this year or last, even in good gardens, that 
had such fine crops as my own. I do not pretend to teach, but as 
my practice seems to be successful perhaps an outline of my 
•cultural routine may be worthy of note. 
The season has, of course, been unfavourable. I have not 
gathered ripe Tomatoes out of door 3 in June as I did last year ; 
but my plants have done well. We have for a considerable time 
had as many as we wanted, and to-day (Sept. 25th) I have gathered 
37 lbs. of fine sound thoroughly ripe fruit* from just that number 
-of plants, not cutting any which were not completely and thoroughly 
cipe. Only three of these plants are on a south wall, the remainder 
being on a larch paling, and mostly facing W.N.W. A large 
-amount remain to be gathered. 
I venture to suggest those who fail in the outdoor culture of 
this popular fruit do not give it sufficient attention. I have been 
•surprised to see a quantity of green growth on plants in other 
gardens, even as late as this date, whereas I (not pretending to be 
an authority, but speaking only as one who seems to be successful) 
allow no stem or leaf growth whatever after the end of July at 
latest. My variety is Suttons’ Main Crop. I do not at all say it is 
the best for the purpose, but as it serves me well and I know its 
e< manners and customs ” I am satisfied. My plant? are raised as 
mear the glass as possible to make them short jointed, and kept in a 
•similar position when removed to a cooler house. They are put 
out about the same time as bedding plants—say the middle of May 
■for an average, and I do not think much of a plant that has not by 
this time a bunch of flowers, sometimes with the fruit set—planted 
against the paling in firm soil, well trodden with no manure, and 
watered occasionally but not too much. They need now, as soon 
•as they begin to grow, a good deal of attention, and should be gone 
•over carefully at least three times a-week, thinning the foliage 
severely, and cutting away perhaps a good portion of each leaf left 
if it is so large as to shade the plant. The one-stem system is 
rigorously adhered to, and any side shoot is rubbed away at once. 
SIf left only for a short time it will weaken the stem above it. 
The very large trusses of bloom are thinned, and any leaf growth 
from the bunch stopped at once. The plant is carefully nailed or 
tied up, and the bunches of fruit supported in some manner, or 
their weight will soon bend and bruise the stem of the truss. 
About the middle or end of July, according to the season, all 
growth is stopped for the year ; there should then be from six to 
eight good bunches of fruit or blossom buds on each plant. Now 
for the first time liquid manure is given, but cautiously ; not if the 
weather is cold and wet. The swelling fruits are tied apart from 
each other as much as possible. Some (always the biggest) are 
sure to rot in wet weather, especially if they touch one another or 
wet remains long upon them ; but I do not think we have ever had 
any of the actual disease. 
I find seedlings as good as cuttings, and have not experienced 
any advantage in growing them in plunged pots to restrict the 
roots. As English Tomatoes are better than imported, so I imagine 
(but it may be my fancy) outdoor ones gathered perfectly ripe 
are best of all. When taken indoors unrips and coloured (I 
0 Query, fruit or vegetable ? I think “ Punch ” puts this question in the mouth of a 
•customer at a restaurant, with the waiter’s answer, “ Neither, Sir, it is a hextra 1 ” 
will not say ripened) in a kitchen or hothouse they always seem 
to me very poor things. —W. R. Raillem. 
There are many crops of our gardens on which the unfavour¬ 
able season has had a serious effect, but there is none, I 
believe, more disappointing than the outdoor Tomato crop. The 
acquired taste for these fruits is undoubtedly steadily increasing 
each year, for most salesmen declare that no garden produce meets 
with so ready a sale. Growers for market are fully alive to thi? 
demand, and in endeavouring to meet it secure good profits. I 
have more than once heard it said that Tomatoes prove the most 
remunerative of market crops, and any sheltered sunny spot avail¬ 
able outdoors, and not otherwise appropriated, is accordingly given 
up to these fruits. 
Probably more plants were raised and forwarded under glass for 
planting outdoors this year than ever before, and the prospects gave 
bright hopes at the earliest period, but the frequent rains and 
humid atmosphere proved fatal to the setting of the fruits. Plants 
grew well and produced vigorous flower trusses, but unless pro¬ 
tected were unable to effect an early set. The unusually early 
appearance of the Potato disease brought with it great terror to 
the Tomato grower, who had hoped for fruit on the later formed 
clusters, but the disease, as was expected, communicated itself to 
these plants on walls, affecting stems, leaves, and fruit alike. In 
some cases the attack was so severe as to necessitate the entire re¬ 
moval of the plants without any crop to repay the trouble of the 
several previous months, and others left presented but a sorry 
figure. Such experiences may not be known to all, but of the 
various gardens I have visited I know but one where a good crop 
is forthcoming outdoors, and that is under the care of Mr. 
W. Iggulden. On the low front wall of some forcing houses, and 
on the more lofty Peach wall, both having a southerly aspect, there 
are numbers of plants carrying excellent crops of large size, and 
many of the fruits have been cut, and others are ripening on the 
earlier perfected clusters. 
Several varieties are planted, but all are not alike free. Those 
that are bearing the greatest amount are the crimson Mikado, 
Ham Green Favourite, Chemin Red, Conference, and The Peach. 
The first-named is a selection from the original introduction, and 
differs from that only in colour, and if possible better form. Ham 
Green is a very free bearing sort, and now has a good reputation, 
but Chemin Red is not so generally known, though there is a 
possibility that it may prove a rival for that previously mentioned. 
In appearance it closely resembles Ham Green, but the quality, 
which is the chief essential, is said to be superior, and that is saying 
a good deal. It was sent out, I believe, by MM. Yilmorin of 
Paris, by whom many excellent garden products are distributed. 
The Conference has been referred to several times this year and 
last autumn as being the best flavoured Tomato yet sent out, this 
being decided, I think, at Chiswick last year, when so many sorts 
were grown on trial. This quality, combined with great fruitful 
ness, will no doubt secure for this the premier position among these 
popular fruits with all save perhaps exhibitors, for with these 
Perfection must still hold sway, on account of the large size to 
which it may be grown. The Peach produces small or medium 
sized distinct looking fruits in abundance, on open walls at Marston, 
in company with those before named. 
Mr. Iggulden attributes his success mainly to the great warmth 
of the site occupied by these plants, the walls of the forcing houses 
being naturally warmed through from the hot-water pipes within, 
as they pass along the whole length in close contact. As might be 
naturally conceded, the pollen has greater chances of becoming dry 
in such favourable quarters than is possible when more fully 
exposed. 
Disease, although present, is not nearly so violent as with most 
growers in the district, and as yet but little inconvenience has been 
experienced in this matter. The attack of cladisporium has been 
very common under glass, but it is a somewhat new experience 
to find that it thrives in the open air, but not to such an extent as 
to cause any alarm ; still it would be more satisfactory if the past 
opinions of respected authorities could be true, namely, that it 
could not live or spread outdoors. 
Another item that has contributed largely to the p-oduction of 
so good a crop is firm and not rich soil. That in which they are 
growing is a narrow enclosed border from which a similarly heavy 
crop was taken last year, with only a slight top-dressing placed on 
in the spring for the benefit of some Lily of the Valley roots, which 
are part occupiers of the soil, rither than for the Tomatoes. In 
such a firm medium the growth becomes sturdy, and large clusters 
of fruit are seen, almost touching the ground in some instances. 
One of the most shy bearers that I could find at the time of 
my visit was the yellow fruited Golden Sunrise, which was rather 
disappointing, this being one of Mr. Iggulden’s first favourites on 
account of the quality of the fruit. Sutton’s Golden Queen with 
