292 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



crop is almost wholly grown without irrigation or with subirriga- 

 tion by seepage from ditches, the earth surface is. always warm and 

 dry, and rot is almost unknown. The soil should be cultivated as 

 long as it can be done without injury to the prostrate plants. Well- 

 grown plants on rich moist soils almost cover the surface even when 

 given the widest distances. 



It is commonly believed that excessive growth of foliage re- 

 tards ripening and reduces fruitage. Whenever this occurs, as on 

 very rich and moist interior soils, free cutting back of the plants 

 with a scythe, is practiced with good results. Summer pruning of 

 over-rank garden plants is also desirable. 



Irrigation. As already stated, the tomato abhors dry soil, and 

 in some situations irrigation is essential. Care must be had against 

 over-irrigation, especially in the coast region, where proper plant- 

 ing and cultivation will give satisfactory results with the natural 

 moisture. Not only does excessive watering promote foliage at 

 the expense of fruit, but it is apt to give a tomato which slices up 

 into cart-wheels instead of firm and solid discs of flesh. Most 

 growers cultivate too slackly, especially when irrigation water is 

 used. 



Irrigation by flooding is sometimes successfully practiced, but 

 application of water which does not wet the surface beneath the 

 plants is preferred. 



Picking Tomatoes. Tomatoes for shipping should always be 

 picked right. For such purpose the fruit should be picked when 

 slightly blushed, not by squeezing or pulling. Encircle it with all 

 the fingers and twist carefully, leaving the stem on the vine, or rub 

 it afterward, if it parts from the vine. Do not leave the stem end 

 on the fruit. Pick in shallow boxes, not in deep pails or baskets, 

 and use two receivers; one for perfect fruit, the other for culls. 

 Do not handle the fruit roughly, even if it seems very firm. 



Yield. With all conditions favorable, tomatoes make a very 

 large return. Twelve and a half to fifteen tons of marketable 

 tomatoes have been gathered as an average per acre from large 

 tracts in Alameda county. The largest specimen of which the 

 writer has record was grown in Calaveras county, with the follow- 

 ing dimensions: circumference, twenty-two and one-half inches; 

 diameter at widest place, eight inches; weight, four and one-half 

 pounds. Mr. Ira W. Adams reports that he grew one year one 

 hundred and thirty-six pounds of ripe tomatoes from one vine, and 



