174 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



are about as large as a hen's or even a pigeon's egg, 

 two of the very best are selected and all the others are 

 taken off the plant. When the fruits have grown 

 somewhat larger say about the size of a cricket ball 

 or a man's fist the shoots bearing them should be 

 shortened back an inch or so beyond the leaf in front 

 of the fruit, so that the sap may be drawn as far as 

 this without being wasted. 



The best fruit on each plant is then decided upon 

 whether it be on the shoot pointing to the top of the 

 frame or on the shoot pointing to the bottom and the 

 other is suppressed. One fruit only is thus allowed 

 to ripen on each plant, as it is considered better to 

 have one large fine fruit than two smaller ones. 



As each pinching and stopping of the shoots causes 

 a certain amount of injury, it is well to give the plants 

 a slight sprinkling and to keep them shaded from 

 bright sunshine for a day or two. 



As the fruits increase in size and weight it is a good 

 plan to place a piece of glass, slate, or board beneath 

 each one so that the under-side shall not become dis- 

 coloured. Uniformity of colour may also be secured 

 by slightly turning the fruits from time to time, or by 

 standing them upright on their stalks. 



Occasionally a fruit is inclined to become irregular 

 or deformed. This may be avoided or overcome by 

 making a vertical and transverse slit in the skin, 

 (thus : -f ) in the place where there is a hollow. The 

 effect of these slits is to draw the sap to the injured 

 portion, thus causing it to fill up the hollow that at 

 first seemed imminent. 



During the development of the fruits, attention is 

 given to watering and ventilation. While the soil 



