Vegetable Growing for Market 



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convenience. As the main stem reaches wire after wire, it should be tied 

 with raffia, keeping the stem on the under side of the wire. There is 

 always a natural inclination for the shoots to push against the glass. If 

 allowed to do so, they often get scorched and deformed by the heat, what 

 many gardeners call " basilheaded ", whatever that means. In any case, the 

 tops should be kept away from actual contact with the glass, and the layer 

 of air between the leaves and the glass will temper the scorching rays of 

 the sun in summer, and enable the leaves to carry on the work of assimilat- 

 ing food under more comfortable conditions. Many growers place a bamboo 

 cane to each plant, and where this can be afforded it helps to keep the 

 main stem in place when tied. 



Watering". When in full growth, Tomato plants require plenty of water 

 at the root; the stems and leaves require none. The temperature of the 

 water should never be lower than that of the house in which the plants 

 are growing, and if a degree or two higher so much the better. The tanks 

 should always be kept full, so that the chill may be taken off. In very 

 large Tomato houses, where no tanks are used, but water is applied direct 

 from the main by hose pipes, there is a certain amount of irregularity in 

 watering that is difficult to avoid. Some plants get too much, others too 

 little, and although the work is done more quickly, and more cheaply, the 

 crops are by no means so large as when water is given properly to each 

 individual plant. In giving water the main point to remember is to 

 give sufficient each day, and neither too much nor too little. If the soil 

 is soddened with water the roots become chilled, the leaves begin to curl, 

 and the flower buds begin to drop, because the food they require from 

 the roots is not forthcoming in sufficient quantity. On the other hand,, 

 unless a sufficient amount of water is given, the plants are unable ta 

 obtain their nourishment from the soil, and again the flowers and even 

 the young fruits fall off. 



Defoliating 1 . It is a common practice with market growers in all 

 parts of the kingdom to mutilate the leaves of their Tomato plants, 

 especially when the fruit begins to colour. There are very few indeed 

 who allow the healthy leaves to carry on their natural work, but these 

 few invariably get heavy crops of fruit. It is a popular fallacy that light 

 is absolutely essential to develop the colour in the Tomato fruit. And 

 yet every grower probably knows from experience that the brightest- 

 coloured and most luscious fruits are often to be found beneath the 

 leaves, completely hidden from the sun. They also know that the im- 

 ported fruits are picked almost green, and that they colour in complete 

 darkness in the hold of the ship during transit. Crocuses colour under- 

 ground, and Grapes are shaded from strong sunshine by the vine foliage, 

 and yet colour. And yet, notwithstanding these well-known facts, the 

 great majority waste time and money in having work done that is more 

 of a hindrance than a help to their plants. A reference to the work carried 

 011 by the leaves of plants (see Vol. I, p. 44) will convince anyone that so 

 long as the leaves of a Tomato plant are clean, green, and healthy they 



