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Page 58
Water-melons should be planted eight feet apart; but if one has
not a warm, sandy soil, I do not advise their culture. The time of
planting and management do not vary materially from those of the
musk variety. The following kinds will scarcely fail to give
satisfaction where they can be grown: Phinney's Early, Black
Spanish, Mammoth Ironclad, Mountain Sprout, Scaly Bark, and Cuban
Queen.
The tomato has a curious history. Native of South America like the
potato, it is said to have been introduced into England as early
as 1596. Many years elapsed before it was used as food, and the
botanical name given to it was significant of the estimation in
which it was held by our forefathers. It was called Lycopersicum--
a compound term meaning wolf and peach; indicating that,
notwithstanding its beauty, it was regarded as a sort of "Dead Sea
fruit." The Italians first dared to use it freely; the French
followed; and after eying it askance as a novelty for unknown
years, John Bull ventured to taste, and having survived, began to
eat with increasing gusto. To our grandmothers in this land the
ruby fruit was given as "love-apples," which, adorning quaint old
bureaus, were devoured by dreamy eyes long before canning
factories were within the ken of even a Yankee's vision. Now,
tomatoes vie with the potato as a general article of food, and one
can scarcely visit a quarter of the globe so remote but he will
find that the tomato-can has been there before him. Culture of the
tomato is so easy that one year I had bushels of the finest fruit
from plants that grew here and there by chance. Skill is required
only in producing an early crop; and to secure this end the
earlier the plants are started in spring, the better. Those who
have glass will experience no difficulty whatever. The seed may be
sown in a greenhouse as early as January, and the plants potted
when three inches high, transferred to larger pots from time to
time as they grow, and by the middle of May put into the open
ground full of blossoms and immature fruit. Indeed, plants started
early in the fall will give in a greenhouse a good supply all
winter. Tomatoes also grow readily in hot-beds, cold-frames, or
sunny windows. We can usually buy well-forwarded plants from those
who raise them for sale. If these are set out early in May on a
sunny slope, they mature rapidly, and give an early yield. The
tomato is very sensitive to frost, and should not be in the open
ground before danger from it is over. Throughout May we may find
plants for sale everywhere. If we desire to try distinct kinds
with the least trouble, we can sow the seed about May 1, and in
our climate enjoy an abundant yield in September, or before. In
the cool, humid climate of England the tomato is usually grown en
espalier, like the peach, along sunny walls and fences, receiving
as careful a summer pruning as the grape-vine. With us it is
usually left to sprawl over the ground at will. By training the
vines over various kinds of supports, however, they may be made as
ornamental as they are useful. The ground on which they grow
should be only moderately fertile, or else there is too great a
growth of vine at the expense of fruit. This is especially true if
we desire an early yield, and in this case the warmest, driest
soil is necessary.
But comparatively a few years ago the tomato consisted of little
more than a rind, with seeds in the hollow centre. Now, the only
varieties worth raising cut as solid as a mellow pear. The
following is Gregory's list of varieties: Livingston's Beauty,
Alpha, Acme, Canada Victor, Arlington, General Grant. I will add
Trophy and Mikado. If a yellow variety is desired, try Golden
Trophy.
If the tomato needs warm weather in which to thrive, the egg-plant
requires that both days and nights should be hot. It is an East
Indiaman, and demands curry in the way of temperature before it
loses its feeble yellow aspect and takes on the dark green of
vigorous health. My method is simply this: I purchase strong
potted plants between the twentieth of May and the first of June,
and set them out in a rich, warm soil. A dozen well-grown plants
will supply a large family with egg-fruit. Of course one can start
the young plants themselves, as in the case of tomatoes; but it
should be remembered that they are much more tender and difficult
to raise than is the tomato. Plants from seed sown in the open
ground would not mature in our latitude, as a rule. The best plan
is to have the number you need grown for you by those who make it
their business. Eggplants are choice morsels for the potato-
beetle, and they must be watched vigilantly if we would save them.
There is no better variety than the New York Improved.
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