The Garden Under Glass

CHAPTER XVII TOMATOES IN THE GREENHOUSE Those who wish may have a splendid crop of tomatoes in a house in which there is scarcely any heat, though they will not be so early. In the germination and in the early stages they will, of course, need fire-heat, but scarcely any after they are planted out. Early in February is a good time to sow the seeds. Instead of scattering them indis-criminately over the surface of the pan or box, let them be placed about an inch apart, then covered with soil, then with a sheet of glass and finally with a sheet of paper. If put into a temperature of 50 ° to 6o° they will germinate in about a week. By the end of the month, with the pan put close to the glass, the seedlings should be sufficiently ad-vanced to be pricked off into boxes at a distance of about two and a half inches apart. Sandy soil and leaf-soil will form a suitable medium, and no manure must be used. The Potting of Tomatoes In the boxes and in the same temperature they may remain for about three weeks, when they will be fit for transference singly to 3-inch pots. Here again an open soil free from manure will be needed. But a few days efore potting move them to a cooler quarter, where the temperature is somewhat less and the atmosphere not so c ose. To prevent their becoming leggy pot them right up to the base of the seed leaves and give them a light 179