The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-03-23
for the farmer.
r.pIY TOMATO PLANTS.

r-hos. vim desire OILY a lew plants, without
wishing TO incur the expense aud labor OF pre-
narinr n hotbed, should select boxes tor the pur-
-. INTO which place good light foam or wood
r. six inches high either thin them out or trans
Liant them TO other boxes, IN order to get ROOM
h l. not generally known, however, that toma-
t,,es will sometimes grow from cuttings, ana
flat a large sized plant will thus produce sever
al smaller ones They will grow from cuttings,
.Isn once rooted, but such course is not safe
in eynerieuced hands. Probably the best way
10 urocure plants early is TO save all the iruit
cans and cut off their tops. Prepare the loan
that is to be placed in them by rendering 1t very
fine and light Let il be rich. but if manure Is
used let it be fine and well rOtted. If the wea-
Their is extremely cold, some fresh manure may
IA. Dlaced near the bottom for the purpose OF
generating heat, but care be taken not to use
too much. Place the cans ON a shelf near WIN
dow which faces the south, and have as cover
ing for each large paper bag. which should be
used at night Now plant about one-haf OF an
inch deep dozen tomato seeds, gently pressing
the earth on the seeds. Moisten them gently
with tepid water, but do not saturate the earth.
As soon as the plants are an inch in height draw
ont very gently all but the largest, which leaves
a single plant to each can; having the entire can
TO itself the plant will soon have room to grow
and will push forward rapidly. II u hegins TO
shoot up faster than desired, pinch OF the grow
Ing tin. This forces the plant 10 extend itself
growing tall and slender. IL Will become stout,
strong, well-roOted and vigorous and when after
wards placed 10 the open grOnu'l, Will be almost
ready 10 do its duty of protection. IL the SEASON
is late and the plants very large, the want Of
space in the can may prompt the growers To
transplant them before the danger of frost Is
nyer but the lack of nourishment in the can
NAV be supplied in this manner; To every quart
of water add Tablespoonful OF saltprtTe. tea
spoonful of common salt, a teaspOonfu of salera-
pis.hF Elrl md
a good heaping tablespoonful OF snperphoSiliate.
Water the plants III the evening with this by
pnnriny II around the roots, (not too librrally)
hut not on the plants After transplanting, this
frrtlizng may be continued, AZ II will cause
them to push ahead rapidly.
Tine ABOVE gives simple and easy method "t
letting early plants for a small garden, and
opens a way for utilizing old frnt cans. Now,
a word about the plants after they are IN the
,rnuud. When the srasOu Is dry water them
occasionally very profusrly, but not 10y pouring
The water around them, but by first removing
the top earth a little, putting III the water, and
placing back the dry earth. This prevents
>calding from the hot sun, and avoids baking.
Do not work them deeply, but keep the surface
clean. The best fertilizer for tomatoes Is we'll
rotted manure, but spoonful of guano and
small quantity of superphosphate from time {"
lime, dissolved in watrr If preferred 10 the
above, are valuable assistants. On light soils
the potash salts should be used more than where
the 1Toullu Always h'tP pidutn
we'll pnched back and carefully tied to stakes.
OF the varieties the Acme is very popular, hut
more subject to rot than any of the Others. The
Trophy does not ripeh near the stem. The Con-
querOr Is the earliest, but small. The Hathaway
Excelsior is superb. II may not be as large as
some others, but il is solid, smooth, free from
disease, hardy and of beautiful color, ripening
down to the stem. The General Grant and Pa
ragon are also very good varieties, the former a
very good keeper. They must be watched for
4 s..1,&
for worm TO seriously iniure vine. This worm
and the tobacco worm are identical. On sandy soil
mulch will be very servceable Always let the
tomatoes ripen on the vines Instead of pulling
them partially green. The tomato is very pro-
ductive and, like the orange. il blossoms while
the fruit is ripening continuing to bear right
along until frost. The vines also are able to
pair damage from loss of limbs, etc.