January  24,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
75 
Eirly  Tomatoes. 
Where  Tomatoes  are  held  in  high  esteem — and  they  are  annually 
gaining  favour — they,  like  most  other  choice  vegetables,  are  much 
valued  early  in  the  season.  Last  year  we  cut  fruit  from  our  spring- 
raised  plants  in  Apiil,  and  by  the  end  of  May  we  had  abundance. 
To  have  Tomato  plants  in  fruit  in  April  no  time  should  now  be 
allowed  to  pass  before  sowing  the  seeds.  These  are  best  placed  in 
3-inoh  pots.  After  filling  the  desired  number  of  these,  with  any  rich 
soil  two  seeds  should  be  placed  on  the  turface  in  each,  and  slightly 
covered.  If  the  pots  can  then  be  plunged  in  a  gentle  bottom  heat  ; 
the  plants  will  appear  all  the  quicker,  and  then  they  should  Dot 
be  placed  far  frtm  the  glass,  as  drawn  spindly  plants  are  never  so 
good  as  short -jointed  robust  ones,  and  all  depends  on  the  position  in 
which  they  are  grown.  As  soon  as  the  plants  are  2  or  3  inches  high 
clusters  of  flowers  will  appear  every  few  inches  after  this.  Numbers 
of  fruits  will  form  on  each  of  these,  and  by  the  time  the  plants  are  at 
the  top  of  the  stakes,  eighteen,  twenty  or  more  fruits  will  be  formed 
on  each.  This  number  is  a  good  crop  to  begin  with,  and  the  point 
should  be  taken  from  each  plant  at  this  height,  all  side  shoots  removed, 
aud  little  or  no  growth  be  allowed  to  be  made  until  the  fruits  are 
swelling.  At  this  time  plenty  of  water  and  liquid  manure  must  be 
given,  and  a  side  growth  may  be  allowed  to  form  occasionally  to 
produce  a  bunch  of  bloom  and  fruit  in  succession. 
As  they  grow  quickly  and  may  be  trained  any  tway,  or  cut-in  to 
any  extent  without  injury,  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  cut  all  barren  wood 
out  and  only  leave  that  which  will  bear  fruit.  When  the  first  leading 
growth  has  fruited  and  become  exhausted,  a  fresh  one  may  he  taken 
up  from  the  bottom  and  be  treated  in  the  same  way  as  the  first  until 
it  comes  into  bearing,  when  the  old  one  can  be  cut  away.  When  this 
is  done  a  good  top-dressing  should  be  given  to  assist  the  young 
growth.  There  is  no  secret  in  fruiting  Tomatoes  early,  nor  does  it 
the  weaker  of  the  two  should  be  drawn  out.  If  plants  are  scarce  repot 
this,  but  do  not  neglect  the  one  left  in  the  pot,  as  it  will  make  the  better 
and  earlier-fruiting  plant. 
When  it  is  from  6  to  8  inches  high  it  should  be  transferred  to  the 
fruiting  pot.  This  may  be  either  8-inch  or  10-inch  size.  For  small 
corners  the  former  may  be  used  ;  where  space  is  abundant  the  larger 
size  is  better.  The  fruiting  pots  must  be  well  drained,  and  the  soil 
employed  must  be  good.  Loam  and  cow  manure  are  suitable,  and  these 
should  be  used  in  a  rather  dry  state.  The  soil  must  be  rendered  firm,  or 
the  roots  Boon  take  possession  of  it,  and  they  are  liable  to  receive  a 
check  at  any  time  from  deficient  supplies  of  water.  They  do  not  need 
bottom  heat  after  being  placed  in  the  fruiting  pots  ;  but  if  they  can  be 
arranged  on  a  shelf  in  on  early  vinery  or  plant  stove  where  the 
heat  is  between  60°  and  70°,  they  will  grow  rapidly,  and  soon  make  fine 
plants. 
When  they  are  about  1  foot  high  a  stake  3  feet  long  is  placed  to 
each  and  the  stems  are  tied  to  this.  When  the  plants  are  grown 
robustly  they  will  show  bloom  by  the  time  they  are  a  foot  high,  and 
require  a  great  amount  of  skill,  if  they  are  only  grown  in  pots  in 
a  warm  position  near  the  glass  and  never  allowed  to  carry  more 
wood  than  is  bearing  the  fruit. — J.  M. 
Tomato  Hackwood  Park. 
The  accompanying  photograph  shows  a  row  of  Tomato  Hackwood 
Park,  numbering  seventy  plants.  The  seeds  were  sown  under  glass  in  the 
usual  way  in  February,  and  planted  out  at  the  end  of  May  on  the  lower 
edge  of  a  Vine  border.  The  fruits  varied  in  weight,  but  averaged  10  to 
12  ozs.  each,  the  total  weight  of  fruit  on  the  row,  85  feet  long,  being 
4£  cwt.  I  think  it  is  due  to  our  local  seed.-man,  Mr.  Birt,  to  mention 
his  name  in  connection  with  so  prolific  a  strain — the  whole  were  pro¬ 
duced  from  a  threepenny  packet  of  seed.  I  think  your  readers  will 
agree  with  me  that  with  a  small  amount  of  trouble  this  fruit  could  be 
grown  in  such  quantity  and  at  such  a  price  as  to  oust  the  foreign 
produce  from  the  English  market. —  Edwin  Allen,  The  Gardens, 
Maindee  Parle,  Newport,  Mon. 
