584 
May 11, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
The Tomato. 
No matter what the reason may be that has caused 
the name of Love Apple to be applied to the Tomato 
it would seem to be a singularly appropriate appella¬ 
tion when we take into consideration the high esteem 
in which it is held by all classes of the social 
community. Rich and poor alike are apparently of 
the same mind with regard to its value, and its 
popularity is such that no collection of vegetables 
could possibly be either a complete or even a fairly 
representative one without the presence of a quantity 
of Tomatos. Despite the fact that immense 
quantities are grown year by year the demand 
always seems to be in excess of the supply, at least 
with regard to English grown fruit. The Tomato 
being such a sun-loving subject it is not always that 
a crop can be obtained from plants in the open air, 
absolute failure to do so sometimes resulting during 
wet seasons, a fact that was amply demonstrated 
during the recent cold wet summer and autumn of 
1894. But where a few square feet of glass are 
available it is seldom indeed but what a crop-can be 
obtained from plants grown under its shelter, of 
course supposing that they are looked after properly. 
Indeed the Tomato is one of the most remunerative 
crops that can be grown, a fact that should appeal 
to the careful consideration of the amateur who 
naturally wishes to turn his small glass house or 
houses to the best possible account. One or two 
plants in pots do not take up a deal of room and 
during an ordinary season will well repay any 
trouble that may be taken with them. That Tomatos 
require huge unwieldy pots to accommodate them is 
a fallacy, as has been sufficiently proved times 
without number. Many of the complaints which 
reach our ears from time to time as to the unsatis¬ 
factory behaviour of pot plants are due in a great 
measure to the mistake made in according them too 
much root room. With very few exceptions the 
plaint of unsuccessful cultivators takes the form of 
“ My Tomatos grow strongly enough but they do not 
fruit.” Naturally the Tomato is a gross growing 
subject, especially where it can indulge in its deep 
feeding propensities. The production of such rank 
growth is, moreover, usually at the expense of the 
fruiting abilities of the plant. Experienced culti¬ 
vators know full well that if satisfactory crops 
of fruit are expected the too vigorous vege¬ 
tative growth of the plants must be kept within 
due bounds, both by the restriction of the root room 
as well as by the judicious removal of unnecessary 
foliage. 
To those who intend to grow a few Tomatos 
under glass in pots during the ensuing season, this 
word of caution may be given : “ By no means use 
too large or clumsy pots.” Where the culture of the 
Tomato is to be attempted in the manner suggested, 
the present is a most suitable time for making the 
necessary preparations. Plants which have been raised 
from seed sown in February or the beginning of March, 
and which have been subsequently potted on into 32- 
sized pots, are just the sort of material necessary. 
If, therefore, a few of these can be obtained, either 
by purchasing them from the nearest market gar¬ 
dener, or by utilising the generosity of any friends 
who possess a supply, well and good. A ic in. pot 
will be amply large enough for all purposes. The 
compost should consist of two parts of good loam to 
one of dried manure, a sprinkling of coarse river 
sand being added. The pots must be well drained 
and should not be filled too full of soil, room being 
left for a top dressing presently. Above all, make 
the soil firm about the roots of the plants, as this is 
an absolute necessity if short-jointed sturdy growth 
is required. For a day or two after potting the 
plants must be kept rather close and shaded from 
the sun's rays, or flagging will result. Once they 
get established, however, shade must on no 
account be given, as they will need all the sun they 
can get. The subsequent needs of plants are not 
very great and little trouble need be experienced in 
supplying them. 
Training and Pinching.— This will need a good 
deal of care and attention, although no compli¬ 
cations need arise in its execution that would 
perplex even the veriest tyro in Tomato culture. The 
plants should be trained up to a wire or rafter with 
a single stem, a method that is accepted by culti¬ 
vators generally as being the best system to pursue, 
finer fruit being thus obtained than when 
several stems are allowed to each plant. The 
certainty of the crop is, moreover, greatly increased. 
Lateral growths will be produced along the whole 
length of the stem. These, however, must be con¬ 
sistently removed, also any large coarse leaves may 
have their upper half removed. The main stem must 
be stopped as soon as it has filled its allotted space 
and thus the whole vigour of the plant will be 
directed towards the maturing of the fruit, which, if 
all goes well, should beproducedin clusters all along 
the main stem. As the fruit begins to colour a great 
deal of the foliage may be removed with advantage, 
leaving only sufficient to carry on the work of the 
plant and thus throwing all the light possible upon 
the fruit whereby its colour and flavour will be 
greatly improved. 
Watering and Manuring. —It is imperatively 
necessary if success is to be obtained in Tomato 
culture that the plants are not allowed to suffer for 
lack of water, more particularly when the pots 
become filled with roots. The application of liquid 
manure will need a deal of discretion, especially at 
the commencement. It is a great mistake to feed the 
plants too heavily, for there can be no doubt that this is 
the cause of much of the disease that does so much 
damage to the Tomato crop. If fresh farmyard 
manure cannot be obtained the novice will find 
“ Thompson’s Vine and Plant Manure ” a very safe 
stimulant to use, although, like other artificial 
manures, a modicum of care must be exercised in its 
application. 
Temperature.— In this respect a wide range may 
be allowed, although, perhaps, a warm greenhouse 
temperature is the most suitable. Where Tomatos 
are being grown in a house filled with a hetero¬ 
geneous collection of subjects they, as a rule, have 
to accommodate themselves to circumstances and 
suit themselves to the conditions which may be 
considered necessary to the welfare of the more 
particular occupants. A free and buoyant atmo¬ 
sphere should, however, be maintained wherever it 
is possible to do so, air being given regularly and 
well. As to the variety or varieties which it is 
proposed to grow, this is an important matter, 
and requires some amount of thought. Year by 
year new sorts are placed upon the market, and 
lauded to the skies as being superior to all that have 
gone before. Some of these after trials in various 
parts of the country turn out to be good, others bad, 
and very many indifferent. Now the amateur can 
ill afford to speculate with new varieties. By far 
the better plan is to grow one or two sorts that 
have stood the test for one or two years, and thus 
to make sure that they will give the satisfaction to 
him that they have already afforded to other and 
more extensive cultivators. The following will be 
found to be a good selection: Hathaway’s Excelsior, 
Ham Green Favourite, Hackwood Park Prolific, and 
Perfection. 
Outdoor Culture. 
As has previously been intimated Tomatos are not 
always a certain crop when grown out of doors. Still, 
if a warm sunny corner is available, and a few spare 
feet of wall having a south or south-west aspect to 
which the plants may be trained obtainable, splendid 
results may sometimes be forthcoming. The ground 
which the plants are to occupy may now be well 
manured and dug over in readiness to receive them as 
soon as the season is far enough advanced to admit of 
their being put out. The plants which should be nice, 
sturdy little specimens in 32-sized pots should be 
hardened off meanwhile, planting out being performed 
about the middle of the present month. It will be 
found advisable to plant rather thickly, and to train 
them up with a single stem, consistently pinching 
out all laterals as recommended in the case of the 
pot plants. If will be necessary to keep a little 
covering material of some kind in readiness for a 
while after the plants are put out, in case of the 
mercury falling below freezing point.— Rex. 
DOVER HOUSE* ROEHAMPTON. 
A visitor to this establishment leaving the train at 
Barnes station, from which it is some twenty-five 
minutes’ walk distant, finds it hard to believe that he 
is yet within view of the great metropolis which 
stretches its suburbs, like the arms of a huge 
octopus, over so much of the land. The surroundings 
are all so sweetly rural, and the air so fresh and pure 
that one would fain imagine they were suddenly 
removed to a secluded country spot. Whether or 
no the human mind is better able to appreciate the 
beauties of nature in the earlier months of the year 
than it is able to do when the season advances we 
know not, but whether this be the case or no it has 
seldom fallen to our lot to view a more pleasing and 
beautiful country than that immediately surrounding 
Dover House, the residence of J. P. Morgan, Esq. 
The grounds belonging to the estate are not very 
extensive containing only some hundred acres or 
thereabouts, although the gardens are among the 
best in the country. Indeed, during a look through 
them in which our footsteps were guided by the 
kindness of Mr. McLeod, the gardener, to whose 
undeniable ability and indefatigable exertions the 
place owes much of its attractions, we had forcibly 
impressed upon us at every step the thoroughness 
with which everything was attended to. Not only 
in the glass houses, and the kitchen, fruit, and flower 
gardens, does a notable air of cleanliness and good 
order prevail, but the same evidences of careful 
and capable management were apparent in the dairy 
and the usual run of offices pertaining to the farm. 
The number and size of the glass houses is consider¬ 
able, and within their limits are accommodated large 
numbers of flowering ’and foliage plants whose 
general excellence of health and vigour of growth 
betrays the fact that not only are their wants under¬ 
stood, but that they are promptly and carefully 
attended to. 
One roomy stove contains a general collection of 
stove foliage plants, amongst which some large and 
well coloured Crotons are particularly conspicuous. 
Mr. McLeod pays special attention to the cultivation 
of Crotons and has gathered together a collection of 
about eighty of the best known and finest varieties. 
Caladiums, too, are another special feature of the 
establishment, over one hundred varieties beipg 
grown; a collection to which all the leading nursery¬ 
men have contributed. Amongst the other stove 
subjects a magnificent specimen of Dracaena 
Doucettiis deserving of all praise, and is by far the 
best example of it that we have yet come across. A 
batch of Gardenias in magnificent health and full of 
flower or flower-buds was very noteworthy. Like 
many other good growers Mr. McLeod believes in 
the plan of growing the plants for one year only, and 
that he is quite justified in his opinion is evident 
from the results obtained. Another large house was 
filled with fine little plants of Carnations, principally 
of the Malmaison type, although the ordinary tree 
section were also well represented b y good examples 
of such varieties as Winter Cheer, Miss Joliffe 
Improved, Uriah Pike, etc. Seldom is it that we 
see so large a collection of plants in such perfect 
health as the Dover House specimens. Orchids are 
only grown in sufficient quantities to furnish a little 
cut flower when required. Bouvardias and Tuberous 
Begonias are, however, exceedingly well represented 
in quantity as well as of first class quality and bear 
testimony by their beauty to the excellence of the 
treatment they receive. 
The fruit houses occupy a large area, Peaches and 
Nectarines being accorded special attention to judge 
from the quantities grown. Although the past 
winter has been such an exceptionally severe and 
trying one the crops of Peaches do not appear to 
have suffered in the least, with one exception, that 
of the earliest house, where the fruit was just setting 
when the frost was exulting in its full rigour. Some 
three or four roomy vineries with their occupants 
in various stages attest the fact that Grapes are well 
looked after. The lean-to fruit houses were rendered 
more attractive by the utilisation of the back walls 
for the growing of decorative plants of various 
kinds. Thus in one Peach house some large 
specimens of Heliotrope loaded the air with the 
delicious fragrance of their flowers. In another 
case the wall was well covered with strong healthy 
growths of the popular Asparagus plumosus nanus, 
whilst in yet another instance some young specimens 
of Myrsiphyllum asparagoides had been planted 
out, and have already begun to clasp the wires in 
their upward journey. These in the course of the 
season will run right to the top of the house, and 
will then form a most beautiful picture. 
Melons at the present time are promising well, 
the plants being healthy, not too gross-growing, and 
free from disease. Counting the number of fruits 
borne upon eight plants we found it to be twenty- 
eight—not at all a bad crop. Another fact which 
impressed itself very forcibly upon our notice was 
that while each plant had sufficient room to develop 
itself properly not a foot of space was wasted, but 
all turned to good account. Large quantities of 
