bishop] TOMATOES FOR THE CITY GARDENER 31 



of Buffalo, however, nothing is gained by this excessive growth of 

 stem, as berries will not ripen above the height of seven feet. 

 It is better therefore, to pinch off the end buds soon after the vines 

 have reached the top of the stake and thus compel the plant to 

 concentrate its energies upon the development and ripening of 

 fruit. Where killing frosts do not come till late October, nearly 

 all the berries will ripen. If the mature green tomatoes are picked 

 before frost and stored in the cellar like apples they will ripen 

 slowly for a long time. Last season, fruit picked November first 

 was served fresh on the table till the following February and was 

 of good quality. 



The tomatoes grown on the pruned and staked plants are smooth, 

 clean, larger, and of better flavor than those grown on plants 

 which lie upon the ground. The Ponderosas frequently attain 

 a weight of 25 ounces or more and the Berg with me ripens berries 

 weighing two pounds or more. Both are late, solid-fleshed 

 varieties specially suited for late autumn and early winter use. 



To secure early tomatoes, select an early variety, set strong, 

 well-developed plants as soon as danger from frost is over, stake, 

 and prune rigidly to a single stem. The early varieties are usually 

 of a dwarf er habit for which a stake four or five feet long is ade- 

 quate. 



Molds in the Home 



G. H. Bretnall 

 State Normal School, La Crosse, Wis. 



Molds are both our friends and our enemies. When the molds 

 get into the garbage piles, the weed piles, old logs and brush in 

 the woods, or any old trash that is thrown out they are our friends; 

 for they tear this material to pieces and so clear the ground for 

 further growth of vegetation, beside making the ground richer 

 at the same time. If it were not for these, with the help of 

 bacteria, the ground would be covered with the trash piles of former 

 generations, and the dead stems of former plants, and we would 

 have no gardens, farms or forests. It is wonderful when we think 

 of it that such insignificant little plants as molds play such a large 

 part in making life possible for us on this earth. 



These little friends, the molds may become our enemies by 

 getting into the house. We are glad to have them in most places 



