The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-06-20
FARM TOPICS.
Tomato Culture.

In our observation of gardening we
hWe found very few people who get the
lat results out of their tomato plants.
Ether they are selected without knowl-
dge, ont the supposition that there is not
nuch choice in varieties; or they are
llowed to lie on the ground and have
heir fine flavor spoilt; or the vines are
BIT unpruned, TO- sprawl over several
1quare feet of room and waste their en-
Hgies m producing, dwarfed fruit and
useless stalks and blossoms until frost
BONES. Now, there is just as much diff
krence between a large, solid, smooth
|ished tomato, and little, wrinkled
0mbination of seeds, water and skin,
y their is between natural and grated
pples, or "prickly pearl and the
sbartlett." We have raised a dozen
Frieties in one season, and never found
ny thing better than the Eureka and
Trophy. The plants should be stocky,
ND well seasoned to the air before set
mg ont. In most soils they should be
q deep-half way up the stem indeed,
ne Jersey gardeners put them in near
y up to the top, as the stalk
hakes more feeding roots, and they
sand dry weather better. It is an ex-
Roded notion that tomatoes do not need
arch soil. If well fed, they will grow
nnkly, to be sure, but the pruning
saears will take care of that. The most
|ngorous plants will give the greatest
|Nelght and best quality of fruit. Guilt
[sating, to keep the soil loose and free
nom weeds, does the young plants al
most as much good as it does cabbages.
ms 1t IS from lack of training and trim
nng that the most failures are made.
ior garden culture we believe the sim
gls stake system the best, though frames
W answer; and it is q good plan to let
nne plants lie low, on bushes or sticks
y aear the ground, forin very dry seasons
Mey 90 well. As in our short season
a,ly tomatoes are desirable, select half
: aozen OF your best and earliest-blos-
lg lImlng plants for forcing; tie them
weselyWlth large twine to stake four
~ ~ Aga; as soon as the first cluster of
ua umssoms appears, pinch out the
s.Rwald.tending stem,,g and nip
- ~. the lateral branches that
wi .AlI out from time to time
.UOve ~ the leaves. In short, concentrate
~ = tne growth of the plants into one
sauseer OF fruit, and you will have ripe
u'aaoes two or three weeks earlier
saa would otherwise be the case. And
- assrly all plants should be treated after
=. - same fashion, though not so severely
sh,slsr. IL we have trained a plant of
..sl. aS trophy " five feet high, to stout
isIse, i me, having cross-pieces for support;
H. n ople cluster of fruit to each foot
mo..' nv uo'eom one containing 90 tomatoes,
.s;y Justly OF large size Zone of them
= sMng over pound), which began
stsl psn on the goth OF July. By the
eiaa eaae OF frame system the fruit is kept
mo.a s.er, mas better ventilation, ripens
asna, .s evenly, and is better favored. The
s;s.s sa: /: laait in trimming tomatoes con-
ssrs. ssss y cutting off leaves, which should
vs h,ssa, oe done, or nipping the ends of
s.M m. 40 branches after they have grown.
ssoI ssU pant should be kept clean of lateral
eE~s. oa.s from the first; they are, in our
,Aa. A.e' mere robbers, unless you are
rs f q yield of green fruit.-Golde,s
oheese and Improving the Product.
,9hny : very interesting address was made
while apO nv, NJ, wy,