54 TRUCK FARMING 



I have found on certain occasions when the growth is extra 

 heavy, that it is advisable to prune out or cut back the vines, 

 and have frequently found a corresponding increase in the number 

 of crates of tomatoes produced per acre, to such an extent, in 

 fact, that two-thirds or more is added to the crop. In other cases, 

 however, when the growth is not too rank, it does not pay to 

 prune, and as we are generally burdened with a great amount 

 of work at this time, I think it is advisable to plant additional 

 areas, rather than to resort to the laborious task of pruning. 



Beautiful smooth fruit can be grown, and it seems rather more 

 uniform and free from insects, by driving stakes and tying the 

 vines thereto. This, however, doubles the expense and therefore 

 is not practiced to any extent in this section. 



It is necessary at all times to give thorough applications of 

 Dry Bordeaux Mixture with Paris Green to the seed-bed, dusting 

 it over in liberal quantities every three or four mornings during 

 the entire period of growth. 



Great stress must be laid upon the advisability of making 

 thorough applications of fungicide and insecticide throughout the 

 early stage of the growth. Do not wait until you see the ravages 

 that insects make upon your crop, but apply the remedy before 

 they have begun to bloom and keep at it until a few days before 

 you pick your last crop. 



In case worms, leaf-eating or fruit-eating insects appear, apply 

 the bran remedy. (See chapter on Insecticides, etc.) 



