Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-15
THE TOMATO. ANDi.S CULTURE

wherever grown. It's susceptible
of great Improvement, though it has
generally received less attention than
most garden vegetables. Will,
under careful culture they have been
long in reaching their present state,
the tomato has been comparatively
short time under culture, and yet.
nature has done so much for it that
it alre ady holds high rank among
our finest fruits ofthe garden. Many
medical men claim for it valuable
hygienic qualities, and the human
system-that most perfect of all lab
oratories-has confirmed the decis-
ion. 1t is delicately aid, cooling
and heallhtul. In hot weather our
children seize the golden Glove
apples" and quench their thirst, while
we all use them at our tables.
Since this fruit must be brought
to perfection, why grow coarse, un-
slightly, spongy, H. favored tomatoes,
when by attending 70 a few simple,
but important things, the finest quail
teS may Oe uau
IMPORTANCE OF SAVING SEED FROM
EARLY FRUIT.
J he temptation Of growers for
market, to sell the earliest at large
price is so great, that little seed is
saved except from those maturing
later +; doubtless under the impression
that the seed is inst as good. But
this is q great mistake. The seed
from the fruit which ripens earliest
any season will be the earliest and
best the next year. There is no
doubt that the tomato has been vastly
improved by careful culture land can
be still further in the desirable quail
ties of earliness, productiyeness, size,
solidity, tewness OF seeds, beauty of
form, thinness of skin, delicacy Of
of flavor and richness of color.
HOW TO IMPROVE TIRE FRUIT.
Our experience has told us chat
this is the way to do il:
LIST. Plants shonld be grown in
warm, light, rich soil from the seeds
of the earliest ripened fruit having
most, il not all the valuable qualities
mentioned
I'd. They should be grown early.
81. During no time of their growth
should they suffer from want Of
warmth, sunshine, fresh air, and n
sol in proper mechanical and chemi-
cal condition tor their healthy
growth.
GERMINATING THE SEEDS IN 4 LITTLE
For family use, land j, is especially
with this view we write,) the plants
may be started in 4 little box in 4
warm room; and for field culture i'll
i hot bed o. green house. In quite
small box all The plants any family
need may be grown. A few plants
well cared for will be wortl, a great
deal more than a large numbcr IL
grown, such as we so often see crowd
ed to sutfocation and death in deal
ers' hot ,beds. Such long. weakly
things can have no value. The little
boz need be no more that two feet
long, foot wide aud a few inches
deep covered with glass to counter
act the dryness of the atmosphere OF
the room. Put the box in the sun
shine, keep the room warm and care
fully ventilated. Do not be in too
great haste to terminate the seeds;
but once started see that the plants
get no check from rant of care.
WHEN TO SOW SEED FOR AN EARLY
III the neighborhood Of New York,
the seed may be sown about the
middle Of February or beginning of
March.
TRANSPLANTING.
When the plants are two or three
inches high they may be put into
small nots to be afterwards transplant
ted into larger oaes, or into hol-bcd
The TRANSFORMING of them at leost
twice, or even three or four times be
fore putting them in the open ground,
(which should not be done till all
appearance of frost has gone, unle:::;;,,
ia" are protected when Necessarily
will .as,en early ri pening Each
time, before tran-planti G, the soil
should be well watcred 50 that a
ball of earth my be removed with
each plant, and this is particularly
desirable when they are being put Ii
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, Tut 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
the open ground, may be III into q
cold frame, protecting them at first
as much as may be necessary.
If the above plan be followed
faithfully you will have an abundance
. OF fine healthy plants, when every
body else is securing the country for
what is not always to be found
good tomato plants:
OPEN GROUND CULTURE.
Once in the open ground they will
delight and flourish IN a rather light
than heavy, and itch. but not over
rich, soil, and if on the southeastern
exposure of Hill side, where they
will be protected rom the cold winds,
and enjoy the sunshine, all the bet
ter.
They should not be less than four
feet apart. Keep the soil triable.
Let no weeds grow. Hoe early and
often, and they cannot take posses
sion OF the soil.
WHEN TO SOW SEED FOR A LATE CROP.
For a 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 tho fruit OIL
III. tomato vine is borne near the