The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-04-09
NO. 754.
The Tomato--I,s Use, and CuItivstIop.

Inc Tomato-.Its Uses and Cultivation.
The following letter on this subject will be
interesting to our readers, We copy it from
the Working Farmer, a well.known periodi-
cal published in Now York by Charles V.
Mapes.
To the Editor OF the Working Farmer,
DEAR SrR:-Since you and many other
cultiyators of the Tomato, have expressed your
surprise and satisfaction on examining some
ofmy Seeding Tomatos and desire TO know
their origin and proper treatment. will
with pleasure comply with your request.
Until within few years, very little was
known in this country about the Tomato. II
was grown as an establishment in some cor
ner Of flower garden, and called the Lore
Apple Now, it is an article of daily food;
and in a few years it will be 10 common use
in almost every part Of the globe. It's cul-
ture and use will everywhere extend, Just in
proportion as reliable aud exact information
on the subject is spread. 1t does not tako
long to scatter facts. The human race il
coming near together, and all facts concern
ing our common welfare should bo freely dis
seminated. l have grewn the Tomato, and
watched its culture in many Of tie climates
and countries of Europe and America, and /
will furnish my little quota Of observation and
practical experience, hoping thoreby 10 draw
out valuable information from Others. Eve.
rybody knows something of the value of tho
Tomato as a fruit, aud how we should miss it
if it could be raised no more. But very few
persons know how easily and abundantly it
can he grown in perfection, how cheaply it
can be preserved for future use in many forms,
nor its valuable medical properties IS condu-
niy 70 ,;,, I pplu
on two or three Of those points.
lst. The best Kinds and Varieties.-Six
years ago L began more thorough system
of experiments than ! had ever practced or
seen. prepared my beds for growing To-
mstos, and tho analysis Of the soil correspond
ed very closely with the chemical componcnts
of the fruit. | then terminated ten or twelve
of the finest varieties | had, or could get, and
obtained large, vigorous plants of the same
kinds from our New York gardens. One Of
each was planted by itself, where it could not
hybridizs. In another bed l planted all the
varieties together, to make them hybridze,
and multiply new kinds.
| succeeded in getting one variety, which
found superior 10 any had ever seen, in tho
following quaities--C) deicacy of flavor,
thlnness and smoothness of skin, fewness Of
seeds, solidity Of neat, earliuess Of ripening.
richness of color, evenness Of size, and ease of
culture. The next year cast all other varie-
ties away, and brous ht this to perfection;
and 1t has been Universally pronounced by
Agricultural Fairs, Farmers clubs, and Scien-
tfc Horticutuaists, to be superior to any
other.
ID. My Mode of Culture'--Germinatc in
hot-house, hot bed or kitchen; for very early
fruit, transplant when quite small into pots.
The Tomato improves by every transplantng,
and each time should DO set deeper. From
the time four or six leaves appear, pinch or
cut off the larger lower leaves aud the terminal
nal buds, and continue this process Of pruning,
till the fruit is far advanced, so that when
ripe, the beds will seem to be covered by one
mass of large, smooth, even sized, Tomatoes,
of the richest pomegranatc colo.--and the
leaves hidden by the fruit.
Set plants three or four feet apart, in the
warmest spot you have, and let them fall
over to tho Northern france twelve or fifteen
inches high or on pea brush; anything
to sustain them; and keep the fruit from
touching the grourd, which delays ripening,
creates mould, invites cutworms, and always
gives the Tomato an earthly taste. Try for
only one cluster, (the first that blossoms) and
cut everything else gradually away. This
will give you Tomatoes in perfection in the
latitude of Buffalo, four or six weeks earlier
than they are usually ripened in our climate.
II you wish late Tomatoes, pull up each plant
by the root Gust before tie frost comes) and
hang them up on tho south side Of a build
ing, top down, with a blanket 10 roll up days
and let fall nights. When ice makes, hang
them up in any room that does not freeze, or
in dry cellar, and you will have fresh To-
mato2s all Ninter-somewhat shryelled Tut
Of very fine flavor.
Having thus brought this Tomato 10 COM
para,ive perfection, wish to have the seed
scattered as widely as possible. This last
season | saved, with great care, some f tho
.ecd from the most perfect fruit in my garden,
and have left it with Mr.. Charles V. Mapes,
lat his Agricultural Warcrooms in Nassau
street, New York; to whom any communica-
lions on this subject may be addressed.
Most Respectfully.
C. EDWARDS LESTER.