Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-12
NO. 100.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
TOMATO CULTURE.

The London Gardeners Chronicle, "t n
late date, contains the following IN regard t"
the French mode of culture of the tomatoes.
! This being II iavorite fruit with all classes OF
people, and esteemed as one of the whole
soonest connected with the culinary art, our
readers. we know. will thank us for publish
Ing the article. We hope some of our gar
demers will try the system next season and
send us samples!
We are asked how the beautiful Tomatos,
81 common in the French markets and
much finer than our own, are obtained; aud
why it is that the sance made from them is
~ incomparably better. The obvious answer
would seem to be climate" without French
climate YOU cannot have French Tomatos.-
But that is certainly not all. Climate will
influence the quality of the fruit but not lis
quantity: and moreover climate itself is not
absolutely beyond reach Management has
doubtless in this ny well rs in other cases
much to do with result.
Our common way Of growing this plant
does not seem to require alteration. Bring
ing it forward early, planting it in the hottest
place that can be found, and keeping 1t from
night cold and heavy rain while ripening;
perenced men: although it must be owned
that the inexperienced are too apt to neglect
them; rs might have been seen last year in
pretty good country place not hundred mIies
from Hastings, where they were stationed at
the foot OF northwest wall and left tosprawl
over the ground like wild things, with no
pruning, and no autumn shelter.
The common English practice, in the best
hands, is almost unohiectionable; nor indeed
does it materially differ from the French eX-
ccpt in summer management. To nail them
to Il wall, or to lead them over states. is right;
but to peg them down on banks, although 1t
answers for Il market gardener in very warm
dry autumns, is certainly not to be recommcn-
ded in private gardens where quality is more
important than quantity, inasmuch as the
fruit of the Tomato is compelled to absorb
rain or heavy dews whenever they fall on
the bank, at the very time when it requires
to be kept perfectly dry.
The best French gardeners are quite par
ticuar about stopping their plants, 50 that
rs nice Il balance may be maintained between
fruit and leaves as in Peach tree. They
are not satisfied with mere topping rs soon
rs there is plenty of flowers. and with pinch
ing of atcrals afterwards. Their method is
this. As soon rs cluster of flowers is visit
bic they top the stem down to the cluster. 81
that the flowers terminate the stem. Tho
effect is that sap is Immediately impelled in
to the two buds next below the cluster, which
Immediately push strongly, and presently
produce another cluster of flowers each. Tho
moment these are visible, the branch to which
they belong is also topped down to their Level;
and this is done five times successfully. Tho
effect is to form stout dwarf bushes not above
eighteen inches high. In order to prevent
their falling over, sticks or strings are stretch
ed horizontally along the rows so US to keep
the plants tolerably upright. In addition Ia
this all laterals that have no flowers, and after
the fifth topping all laterals whatsoever, are
nipped off In this way the ripe sap is direct.
size and excellence unattainable by other
| nstaBs, and lEe are assured that IA lbs. oi
| ripe Tomatoes per plant is 10 very unusual
produce; even IL lbs. being known.
Whether OF not this exact method is suita-
bic to our climate may be doubted; but the
soundness of it's principle is beyond dispute
Five successive toppings are more than our
short summers will justify except IN very
hot dry places; three We should consider quite
enough; for although the fourth and fifth top
pings would doubtless increase the quantity
Of fruit, yet there is little probability OF such
late fruit ripening well; and it must be safest
to direct the energies Of the plant to bedr Il
smaller quantity Of the highest excellence
that our soil and climate can secure ~ Il
species which grows best ina country where
the summer heat rises to 100 deg. and does
not fall below 80 deg. with mean IN the
warmest month OF - deg.
DISSOLUTION OF CoPARTNERsHIP.
JNIlE c"partnership heretofore exising between
L the undersigned, in the name Of HARPER a
BALDWIN, was dissolved on the 9TH instant by
mutual consent. Either partner Is authorized 10
use the signature oi the hrm in settlement Of tho
business W. A. HARPER.
CHAS. A. BALDWIN.
Alexandria, July H. 1859.
COPARTNERsHIP NOTICE.
fINIIE undersigned have this day formed co
i partnership TO date from the 9TH ins'nnu
A. a.. firm, al BALDWIN 4 60