The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-09
IOmet yes.

The first tomato we ever saw, says the
Southern horticultural Journal, was per-
haps sixty-hve years ago. at thai time
called love apple, without any sppreciable
reason for the name, save the beauty Of the
fruit. 1t was supposed to be poisonous, but
later, some daring person ate Of it-soon
others began to taste out Of curiosity; and
after awhile some horticulturlsts and doc
tors announced to the public that the fruit
was edible and withal healthy. Few liked
the taste at first, but appetite was soon edu-
Gated to accept it as a valuable addition to
the kitchen garden, and as healthy food
having medicinal qualities which acted
specifically on the liver and kidneys. Now,
after the lapse of half century, almost
everybody would think a garden very in
complete without liberal planting of the
tomato. The appetite can be educated to
eat and drink poisons as well as healthy
food and drinks. Young ladies ignorant of
physiology have taken arsenic and eaten
slate pencils to whiten the skin, and opium
and powdered tobacco to thrill the nervous
system; and young men generally, in this
fast age, chew and smoke tobacco. drink
whisky, etc. Man endowed with reason,
strange as 1t might seem, soon acquires
vatiated appetite which grows into habit
so strong that their morals are not able to
overcome But an acquired taste for toma-
toes is unattended with evil consequences
and hence commendable. The tomato is
good raw fried, stewed, or made into pre-
serves, pies and catsup. There are millions
of cans filed every year, showing the gem
eFal popularity of this fruit and the great
industry growing out of it. Early toma-
toes usually bring fancy, even fabulous
prices; and what so well qualified to satisfy
the urgent call as the genial climate and
rich soil of the south, manipulated by the
wide awake gardener. This plant is great
feeder and requires rich land to gather its
food from. The plants we think should be
set about four feet apart each way, which
gives room for working among the rows,
and also gives the vines better chance to
grow-lers in the sunlight to ripen them
evenly and well. They should be kept clean
of weeds, and when large enough should be
staked and tied up, or perhaps what is still
| better, make trellis the length of the row,
say eighteen inches high and train the vines
over it-this inSures free circulation of air
and prevents speedy evaporation of water
| necessary to the health of the vine and the
even ripening of the fruit. In addition to
| this, after the vines begin TO set fruit they
should be mulched, which keeps the ground
clean, and causes a longer retention of
moisture about the roots of the plant thus
keeping Unen growing WHeu unnulcD6Q
| vegetables would suffer from drought. Vines
in rich ground grow luxuriantly, and to Sc
cure early fruit 1t has been recommended
| TO nip off the ends of the branches.
Fruit canning factories are increasing in
the south, where any amount of tomatoes
can be raised. and kept in bearing from
| early in the spring till December. This
great fruit growing rsgion can be made to
| supply all that may be lacking in
America, and Europe, too: and can be done
| so cheaply that competition cannot render
the business proftless. This fact is true of
many other fruits and vegetables and shows
| on its face that vegetable and fruit growing
and canning is an industry that makes a
profitable business for many and a financial
income to the south of considerable import
| ance to the health, comfort and increased
happiness of our people. We have no
special data, but presume we can raise to
matoes and haul them TO the factory for
| 30 or 30 cents per bushel, and prove more
| lucrative than raising cotton at or cents
per pound, especially when it takes from
three to five acres to make bale.