ter
on diseases of tomatoes.

I have made free use of, without special credit, and am largely indebted
to, the writings of Doctor Sturtevant and Professor Goff, Professor
Munson of Maine, Professor Halsted of New Jersey, Professor Corbett of
Washington, Professor Rolfs of Florida, Professor Bailey of New York,
Professor Green of Ohio, and many others. I have also found a vast
amount of valuable information in the agricultural press of this country
in general. I am also indebted to L. B. Coulter and Prof. W. G. Johnson
for many photographs. My thanks are also due B. F. Williamson, who made
the excellent drawings for this book under Professor Johnson's
direction.

Tomatoes are among the most generally used and popular vegetables. They
are grown not only in gardens, but in large areas in every state from
Maine to California and Washington to Florida, and under very different
conditions of climate, soil and cultural facilities, as well as of
requirements as to character of fruit. The methods which will give the
best results under one set of conditions are entirely unsuited to
others.

I have tried to give the nature and requirements of the plant and the
effect of conditions as seen in my own experience, a knowledge of which
may enable the reader to follow the methods most suited to his own
conditions and requirements, rather than to recommend the exact methods
which have given me the best results.

WILL W. TRACY.

_Washington, April, 1907._

CONTENTS

PAGE

PREFACE v

CHAPTER I

BOTANY OF THE TOMATO 1

CHAPTER II

HISTORY 14

CHAPTER III

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PLANT 20

CHAPTER IV

ESSENTIALS FOR DEVELOPMENT 28

CHAPTER V

SELECTION OF SOIL FOR MAXIMUM CROP 33

CHAPTER VI

EXPOSURE AND LOCATION 38

CHAPTER VII

FERTILIZERS 43

CHAPTER VIII

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL 46

CHAPTER IX

HOTBEDS AND COLD-FRAMES 51

CHAPTER X

STARTING PLANTS 59

CHAPTER XI

PROPER DISTANCE FOR PLANTING 68

CHAPTER XII

CULTIVATION