The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-02-15
The Tomato and its Culture.

The following interesting article upon
this subject is written by j. Payne Lowe,
whose address is found below
Hon to Improve the Fruit
Our experience has told us that this is
the way to do it:
1st. Plants should be grown in warm,
light, rich soil from the seeds of the
earliest ripened fruit having most, if not
all the valuable qualities mentioned.
Pad. They should be grown early
Bird. During no time of their growth
should they suffer from want of warmth,
sunshine, fresh air, and a soil in proper
mechanical and chemical condition for
their healthy growth.
terminating the Seeds IN q Small Bor
For family use, (and it is especially
with this view we write the plants may
be started in little box in warm room !;
and for field culture in hot-bed or green
house. In quite small box all the
plants any family need may be grown
A few plants we'll cared for will be worth
great deal more than large number
ill-grown, such as we so often see crowd
ed to suffocation and death in dealers hot
beds. Such long, weakly things can have
no value. The little J0r need be no
more than two feet long, a foot wide and
few inches deep, covered with glass to
counteract the dryness of the atmosphere
of the ROOM Put the box in the sun
shine, keep the room warm and carefully
ventilated DO not be in too great haste
to germinate the Seeds but once started
see that the plants get no chech for acant
Of care.
When to Sow Seed for an Early Crop.
In the neghborhood of New York, the
seed may be sown about the middle of
February Or beginning Of March.
Transp1anting.
When the plants arc two or three inch
cs high they may be put into small pots
to be afterwards transplanted into larger
ones, or into hot-bed. The transplant
ing of them at least twice, or even three
OF four times before putting them in the
open ground which should not be done
till all appearance of frost has gone, I'M
less they are protected when necessary
will hasten early ripening. Each time,
before transplanting, the soil should be
well watered so that {; ball of earth may
be removed with each plant, and this is
particularly desirable when they are being
put in the open ground and thus their
growth will not be checked. During all
this time let them have all the light and
fresh air that they can stand; use mild
days, but beware of cold and frost. A
uniform warm temperature is desirable,
but not so hot as to make the plants grow
too tall and sickly. IF convenient, the
plants, some time before being set in open
ground, may be put into cold frame, pro-
tecting them at first as much as may be
necessary.
IF the above plan ibe followed faithful
ly you will have an abundance of fine
healthy plants, when everybody else is
securing the country for what is not al
ways to be found-good tomato plants.
Open Ground Culture.
Once ID the open ground they will de-
light and flourish in rather light than
heavy, and rich, but not over-rich soil,
and if on the southeastern exposure of a
hillside, where they will be protected
from the cold winds, and enjoy the sun
shine, all the better.
They should not be less than four feet
apart. Keep the soil friablc. Let no
weeds grow. Hoe early and often, and
they cannot take possession of the soil.
When to SoO Seed .tor a late Crop.
For late crop the seed may be sown
in the open ground in spring. When
planted in their place, they will bear till
the frost comes, and longer, if protected.
Pruning.
AS the greater part of the fruit on the
tomato vine is borne near the ground it
will be found that the shortening of the
vines will cause nutrition to flow to fruit