THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 850, 15 June 1888, Page 18

THE GARDEN.

HOW TO GROW TOMATOES IN PER- - FECTION. Because the generous nature of the tomato yields bountifully with seemingly little care and attention, the general impression prevails that the plant requires but little attention. This is a sad mistake, for tbere is not a vegetable in the garden that is so gross a feeder, nor one that so readily pays for all the food and care given as the tomato. 1# grow it to the greatest perfection, the hills should be dug out to the depth of two and a half feet; at the bottom there should be a half bushel of well-rotted manure; above this let the soil be an equal mixture of loam and manure thoroughly mixed. Ihe hills should be at least six feet apart. Let the situation be open, warm, airy. When the fruit begins to set mulch with clean straw or very small brush. Under these conditions six plants will furnish sufficient tomatoes for a family of twelve persons. Whatever variety may be planted in this manner, the result will show specimens for size, smoothness, and esculent properties, unknown to the variety when grown in the ordinary manner, —O, L. Allen.

MARKET GARDENS IN FRANCE. In Paris and other large cities in France manure is produced in tho stables of. the omnibus companies in such large quantities that it is sold at a very low rate, and the market gardeners pay enormous rents for land upon which to make their gardens. This manure is not used to fertilise their crops but as a source of heat. The culture is carried on upon a aeries of extended hotbeds. The vegetables forced are disposed of in the markets of more northern cities. The operations commence in the autumn previous, when the manure is collected and brought into proper condition for use. All the vegetables are forced, so as to be much earlier than they would be in the open ground. A bed of dung about sixteen inches deep is covered with six inches of rich soil, and frames with glazed sashes placed upon this. Quick-growing crops are those generally raised. Lettuce is raised in great perfection ; so are radishes. Cauliflowers are extensively grown, and asparagus is forced in large quantities. The manure used in these beds has lost little, if any, of its fertilising qualities, and is sold to farmers to be used on their crops. The products of a majority of these gardens go to Berlin, Moscow, and St. Petersburg, and even to England. Buyers eome trow these markets, make their purchases at the garden, sut and pack them for transportation, a&d send them off. High prices are paid, but only tho first products are raised. Some gardeners devote their land exclusively to cucumbers and. mellous, to mushrooms, or Borne other profitable specialty in vegetables.