TOMATO 



275 



each. Train one of these shoots from each plant to 

 stakes or a near-by building, but allow the other three 

 shoots to grow naturally over the sides of the barrel. 

 Be careful to give plenty of water daily a gallon each 

 day will be none too much. Three or four old barrels 

 treated in this way and placed in a sunny exposure will 

 produce all the tomatoes needed by a family of four or 

 five persons. 



Prolonging the Tomato Season. In autumn the 

 tomato season may be prolonged by pulling the plants 

 with the unripened fruit on them and hanging them in a 

 shed, where they will continue to ripen fruit for some time. 

 The larger tomatoes will ripen very well if picked off and 

 kept in a shady place. 



Saving Tomato Seed. Tomato seed should be saved 

 from the best tomatoes from vines producing the 

 largest amount of good fruit. The tomatoes should be 

 thrown .into a barrel as 

 fast as they ripen and be 

 allowed to ferment until 

 the seed separates readily 

 from the pulp, when they 

 should be put into water 

 and thoroughly stirred. 

 The skin and pulp being 

 lighter, the seed is readily 

 separated from it. The 

 seed should be dried at 

 once by spreading it out 



ji i i i showing the small seed cavities ana THICK 



thinly m a dry place. walls of good shipping sorts. (U. S. Farmers' 



Varieties. There are BuL 22 



many good varieties of tomatoes. June Pink is good for 

 early, but lacks the color desired on the market. Acme 



Fig. 118. Cross section of tomato, 

 the small seed cavities and thick 



