88 PRIZE GARDENING 



plants such as grow in a hotbed too thickly sown, 

 answer my plan of planting better than short, stocky 

 plants. No one succeeds better in all my circle of 

 acquaintances in growing tomatoes than I do. 



I always trim tomatoes to one stalk and tie to 

 stakes. The trimming consists in pinching or cutting 

 off all branches. These branches start from the main 

 stalk directly above the leaves. The fruit stems or 

 branches start from the main stalk about midway 

 between the leaves, and of course should not be cut 

 off. Any shoots starting from the roots or near the 

 ground must be removed. Grow strictly to one stalk. 

 It is necessary to trim and tie four or five times during 

 the season. Plants may grow five or six feet tall. 



When they reach the top of the stakes, cut off 

 the end of the main stalk and permit no higher growth. 

 By proper care in the work, tomato vines can be twined 

 around the stakes and tied so as to keep every fruit 

 stem and the fruit entirely away from the stakes. This 

 is the best culture for tomatoes. They grow larger, 

 ripen earlier and better than when grown in any other 

 way. For poles I buy refuse oak strips from the 

 planing mill, one by two inches, saw them in six-foot 

 lengths, sharpen one end and drive the stakes solidly 

 into the ground before planting the tomatoes. In the 

 fall I pull up the stakes and store them away for the 

 next season. Thus treated the stakes will last for 

 several years. 



I am too lazy to work with any but sharp, bright 

 tools. I never permit anyone besides myself to use 

 any of my wheel hoe implements. As soon as any 

 one of these is no longer in use, that particular imple- 

 ment is taken to the storeroom, wiped clean with a 

 rag and put in its place. This is done although that very 

 same tool is to be taken out and returned several times 

 in the same day. The same rule is invariably followed 



