The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-03-10

/
The Tomato. and ttm CaaGmre.
This fruit. long known IS the .'Iove apple.r
and said 70 have come from the far SOUTH
mas rapidly gained favor wherever grown
~ susceptible Of great Improvement,
tnouRh u has generally received teEs atten-
eion thAn moe. garden vegetables. While
~ careful culture they have been long
4 ~ ~ iS-SAihk their present state, che tomato
ma Deen comparatively short time under
/ culture, and yet nature has done 40 much
TOT y that Y already holds high rank among
our our nnest fruits Of the garden Many med
lcAi men ciAim Tor X valuable hygienlc quail
tiles and the human system-thst rno.t l,rr-
feet Of AL labOratOrlcs-has confirmed tbe
decision. IL is delicateiy acid. cooiing and
healthiul. ~ the not weather our children
seize the golden "love apples~ ana ouencb
their thirst while we al use them az cur
tables.
Since this fruit must be brought 70 porfee-
ton, why grow coarse, unslghuy, EpouRy,
| = few simple. bat Important things, the finest
qualities may be had
IMPORTANCE or SAVING sEED PROM EARLY
FRUTr.
The temptation Of growers for market 10
sell the earliest at large price Is 80 great.
that little seed Is saved except FROM those
/ maturing later; doubtless under the impress
! sion TN at the seed II Just AZ good. But thia
/ Is a great mistake. The seed from the fruit
which rlpens earliest any season will be- the
earliest and best the next year. There N no
a. ubt that the tomato has been vastiv I'm
proved by careful culture (and can be- stlil
furtherJ In the desirable qualities Of earli-
ness, productiveness, sire. solidity. fewnesg
Of seeds beauty OF form. thinness 81 skin,
delicacy Of flavor and richness Of color.
HOW TO IMPROVE TnE FRuIr.
our experience has told us that this Is the
way 10 do L.:
LIST. Plants should be grown In warm
light, rich soil from the seeds Of the earliest
ripened fruit having most, II not all the val
uable qualities mentioned.
al. They should be- grown early.
ID. During no time OF their growth should
they sufier from want Of warmth, sunshine.
fresh air. and a soil in proper mechanical
and chemical condition for their healthy
growth.
TRANsPLANTIN0.
When the plants are two or three inches
high they may be put into small pots 90 be
Afterwards transplauted into larger ones. or
into hot bed. The transplanting OF them
at least twice, or even three or four times
before putting them Ia the open ground.
(Which should not be done ill all appear
ance of frost has gone unless they are pro-
tected when necessary will hasten early
rpening. Zach time, before trausplnntlng
the soil should be well watercd 80 that a
ball Of earth may be rem 1ved with each
plant aud this Is particularly desirable
when they are being put IN the open ground
and thus their growth viii not be checked
During all this time let them have all the
light and fresh air they will stand use mild
days, but beware Of cold and frost. A uni-
form, warm temperature Is desirable bat
not so hot 10 make the plants grow too
tall and sickly. IL convenient, the plants
some time before being set Ia the open
ground, may be put into a cold frame, pro-
tecting them at first as much a. may be ne
cessary.
IL the above plan be followed faithfully
you will have an abundance Of nne healthy
plants when every body else Is securing tho
country tor what IL not always 20 be found
good tomato plants.
OPES GROUND CULTURE.
Once In the open ground they will delight
and flourish In rather light than heavy,
and rich. but not werlich, soil, and 90 on
the southeastern exposure OF a Hill side,
where they will be protected from tho cold
winds and enjoy the sunshine, 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 can-
not take possession Of the SOIL
WHEN TO SOW SEED FOX LATE cROr.
For late crop the seed may be sown IN
In their place, they viii bear tail tic frost
comes, aud longer IL 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 70 fruit instead
Of making branches. Don't be- afraid 10 cnt
out all suckers aud non-bearng branches,
and 20 shorten those that wander. The wrl-
ter knows that the advantages OF pruning
are questioned by some, but he has learned
by experience, whatever may be the ration
ale OF the matter, the results are Ia favor Of
rather severe pruning,
KEEPING TUX FRUIT CLEAN.
The fruit may be kept clean and prevent
ed from premature decay by spreading brush.
salt hay, OF other such material under the
vines, or by training them. But n the soil
be light and dry this will not be necessary,
specially for a general crop. In garden
culture, II it be thought best 70 train the
vines, simple way i to set poles twelve
feet apart, the tops five feet high Attach
wires horizontally ~ them, which will form
cheap trells for the vines, thus exposing
hem to the free action OF the sun and air
The flavor OF the fruit thus grown Will be
liner than that rtpened on the ground.
vARIETIEs-THE REST.
A great deal might be said on varieties;
but after having tried the most popular ones.
he writer, now grows Testers Perfected
In preference to all OtherB.--J.
Payne Lowe.
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