St. Landry democrat., 1886-04-03
TOMATO CULTURE.
How to Produce Large and Meaty Fruit
, A Word About Cucumbers.

l.
A Word About Cucumbers.
1t seems strange that SO many people
WHO are partially fond of tomatoes will
continue to raise the old worn-out va
rieties, with corrugated surface, con-
tanning little or no solid meat and full OF
seeds and hollow spaces inside, when
the improved varieties can be raised
that will give so much better satisfac-
ton as well as profit to the producer.
Our tomato patch for the past few years
has been more profitable than any other
portion of the garden, and it certainly
is pleasure to gather the big, smooth,
meaty fruit off the vine and prepare it
for the market. We gathered hundreds
of tomatoes from our vines the past
year that weighed from "a pound to a
pound and half apiece, and the best
of it was the fine flavor and produc-
tiveness of this fruit marked it as a SUI
peror variety. Its excellence in part
may have been attributed to our mode
of culture that differs somewhat from
the general course pursued by most
gardeners, and especially those who
think the ''truck patch" is the least
profitable portion of the farm.
The first step in tomato culture is to
see that the seed is properly planted in
soil prepared to give the young plants a
healthful growth, rendering them very
stocky and vigorous. If by good luck
you are fortunate enough to possess a
Is'hot-bed," the plant-raising is q work
of far less care than when dependent
upon the culture within doors. If the
latter method is to be followed, fill the
molds with the following compost: First
put freshly dropped horse manure in
bottom of molds; cover with mixture
Of rich soil, such as is found in hollow
stamps or under barns; mix with one
third part of river sand. Bake slightly
are filled and leveled nicely, put in the
tomato seed-not thickly, but one seed
in place, so there will be no need to
transplant, giving every plant that may
come up plenty of room to grow and
thrive. SO when it comes time to set them
in the ''truck patch they will have vitali-
ty enough to survive the change and
grow right along.
When the plants are ready for setting,
into each hill tablespoonful of phos-
plate is thoroughly mixed with the
earth beloW, cover with dirt, so the roots
of the plant will not come in contact
with the phosphate, then set the plants,
cover with leaves for day Or two, or
until the leaves get acclimated, then I'M
cover, and if the work of transplanting
has been well done and no frost inter-
feres to cut off the plants prematurely,
the coming crop of tomatoes may be
secured in good time, and IF good seed
has been selected the crop will be one
to give ample satisfaction.
Cucumber culture seems to be one OF
the lost arts, at least there are very few
successful growers of this vine. Time
was when the cucumber vine was one
of the most fourishing and prolific
growers to be found in the list of run
ners. That time was when the soil was
better adapted to its growth, by being
naturally or artiicia1ly made rich, so
that more moisture was held in reserve
for the use of the plant. The good man
says that in his boyhood days his father
used to have cartful of manure drawn
ito the garden and dumped on the
ground where his cucumber seed was to
be planted in the coming spring time.
The work of drawing manure was per-
formed in the fall. By this method a
plentiful crop of cucunbsrs was always
secured. Why not follow the same
course nowadays? Another way was to
sink barrel in the earth, about halt
way, removing both heads and filling it
with manure, pouring over it plenti-
full supply of water from time to time.
Plant the cucumber seeds on all sides OF
the barrel, keeping the manure in the
barrel well watered during the time Of
their bearing. If either way will secure
plentiful and early crop of this much
desired vegetable it would be well worth
trial; and paya good profit to the pro-
ducer. Cor. Ohio Farmer. -e ,a-