TOMATO 277 



-he plants are tied to. stakes, or to trellises, made of 

 vood or wires. Less care is necessary when the plants 

 ire kept off the ground by means of wire or wooden 

 supports, such as can be bought or made at home; 

 )ver them the plants are allowed to grow at will, but 

 so much of care as will keep the fruits from being too 

 much shaded by the leaves is always worth giving. 

 Late in the season, also, say about the first of Septem- 

 ber, it is well to cut off all growing tips and all blos- 

 soms which have not set fruit. The simplest method of 

 tomato-growing is to let the plants sprawl upon the 

 'ground; this is the common commercial method, but 

 it has been proved that such plants produce less weight 

 of fruit and that more of it is lost through rot. If the 

 ground is mulched before the plants cover it, more 

 fruit is produced, but it will rot more. At the same 

 time, vines which lie upon the ground are most easily 

 covered against early frosts. Varieties of Tomatoes are 

 several, including the Currant (L. pimpmellifolium) 



I Cherry, Peach, Pear and Plum, and the Common. 

 Strawberry or Husk Tomatoes (which see below) are a 

 different plant. The Common Tomato has been devel- 

 oped into many strains, suitable for all conditions, 

 varying in characteristics from dwarf to tall-growing, 

 deep red in color through yellow to almost white, and 

 of sizes varying from medium to very large. Diseases 

 and pests are not very troublesome. 



Young Tomato plants are always for sale in spring 



