bishop] TOMATOES FOR THE CITY GARDENER 29 



crops are removed, the tomatoes will have become well rooted 

 and be ready for cultivation. 



If allowed to grow as they please, plants should be set about 

 four feet apart each way; if supported, they may be three feet 

 apart in the row with the rows four feet distant from each other. 

 To give plenty of sunlight for ripening, the rows should run north 

 and south if possible. Growth may be hastened by flat-planting. 

 Dig a hole about six inches deep, put in a little stable manure 

 and cover with earth to the deph of an inch. Lay the plant 

 slightly inclined in the hole, cover with earth to the second pair 

 of leaves and press the soil firmly down upon the roots with the 

 foot. The base of the plant should now be about two inches 

 below the surface. Water copiously and shade for two or three 

 days with newspapers, green leaves or boards. In a few days the 

 uncovered part of the plant will stand erect and will develop roots 

 along the buried stem which give the plant increased feeding power 

 and insures rapid growth and early ripening. After the plants 

 are well established the soil should be kept mellow and free from 

 weeds. If the plant is allowed to trail upon the ground, much 

 fruit is wasted, the berries rot or are eaten by slugs, millipeds or 

 wire worms. During a shower they are splashed with mud and 

 rendered unsightly or even unhygienic. Therefore, most varieties 

 of tomatoes will give better satisfaction if supported; and with 

 the larger varieties support is essential. The support may consist 

 of a light trellis or of stakes. If the latter are used, they should 

 be seven or eight feet long, about two inches thick and set about 

 a foot deep in the ground. As soon as the branches begin to appear 

 pinch off all laterals and tie the plant to the stake with strips of 

 cloth or raffia as often as it shows a tendency to fall away from 

 the support. When the plant has reached the height of two feet 

 it may be allowed to fork, pruning each branch as recommended 

 for the main stem and tying until the plant has reached the top 

 of the stake. By preventing the formation of laterals and suckers 

 the energy of the plant is directed to the growth of a long stem 

 and the formation of larger berries. Fruit begins to set on the 

 vine about a foot above the ground and continues to form till the 

 end of the season. With the larger varieties, there is no limit to 

 the growth except the length of the season. In my garden, plants 

 set May 28th reached the height of ten feet eleven inches in five 

 months and set fruit to the height of eight feet. In the latitude 



