Kitchen Garden.

Manawatu Herald, 23 September 1893, Page 2

Kitchen Garden.

Tomato seed may be sown thinly in pobs or boxes. The seed should be sown so thinly that when the young plants appear they are athj least half an inch apart. When not required in large numbers each seedling may have a small pot to itself. The following, taken from the American Agriculturist, will show how they cultivate this valuable plant in the States: "There are probably more tomatoes used, and served in a greater number of ways than any other vegetable, besides its taking the place of the fruits when ' served in its raw stats. The tomato is a gross feeder, sending its roots down deep for food. The best way to grow tomatoes is to throw out the soil to the depth of two feeet, with a equal diameter. Put six inches of well-rotted manure at the bottom and fill the hole with the material thrown out, made rich. Where there is sufficient ground the hills should be eight feet apart. Plants treated in this way willl yield far more fruit!: ~ than if "planted closer. The plants when set should be short and stocky. Those sold in the markets, and set in the usual way, will not; produce, as much fruit, or as quickly, fi as .- would the plants from seed sown where they are to grow. Tall leggy, , plants can be planted to advantage - [ by inserting the plant a little' distance from the centre of the hill pre* pared for it, then bending the plant" down and covering it with earth' to the depth of an inch, leaving the, top' out not more than two inches.' : The plant will immediately commenlca: throwing out roots thickly the whole length of the buried item, and make a strong and rapid growing plant. The same plant treated in the usual manner, seems to grow smaller, in« stead of larger, for some days or weeks. If the plant has plenty..: ot\ * room to spread, it does best, ,wehn trailing upon the ground, the influence of the warm earth being very , beneficial upon the ripening of' the/ fruit. But in wet seasons theW 1 are? - serious objections to this plato, $s*? the fruit is quite liable to rot if lying' ' on wet ground "Yes, . in . .average seasons the chances are irt ! favour* w "no care in training the plants. The number of first-class* .gorts^uj now so great that in the selection of varieties, one must be 'guided by^ individual preference. A medium sized fruit, perfectly smooth, .of of bright red colour, ripening evenly clear to the stem, without a hard centre, and without as little seed SI possible, is the nearest approaolol to perfection." If the seed for^lh> main crop of celery is nbt-Tyet gown it should be done at oncje. Too much care cannot be taken in its preparation from the time of sowing the seed until ready for planting. The least check is detrimental to its well doing, and as this is likely to happen when the seed is sown in pans or boxes, every care must be taken that the seedlings do not suffer. What is needed is a gentle warmth either on a moderate- hotbed or in a fairly warm structure. Use, sweet soil and take the precaution to i sow the seeds thinly. No great heat is needed, just sufficient to create a moderate warmth, so that by the time the seedlings appear/ ai£7 rfjfcy*"^ be given as required. With no*" other convenience useful plants may be raised in a cold frame prepared . with suitable soil and some rotten ; manure beneath. In the south of England some, of the best {quality Celery has been produced ,from plants raised in the open airr In this case a proper bed was prepared in a warm and sheltered corner. Sow Capsicnms and Chilis, Salsafy and Scorzoner, also Cucumbers in frames. — Press. . ,