282 



THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



If early frosts occur when there are still many good-sized green 

 tomatoes growing, the vines may be pulled up by the roots and 

 hung in the cellar or in some cool, rather dark place. Much of the 

 remaining fruit will ripen. Another method of treatment is shown 

 in figure 187. 



If partially ripened tomatoes are picked ior any reason and it 

 is desired to ripen them, they should be wrapped separately in 

 soft paper and put in a dark place, instead of being laid in a sunny 

 window as is sometimes done. 



There are so many varieties to be had it is hard to say which 



FIG. 187. Frost in the fall may sometimes be controlled by a spray of running water. 

 This photograph was taken when the spray was frozen with icicles on tomato plants, but 

 the water was kept running until the heat of the sun allowed no more to freeze. This saved 

 the plants and the fall crop. 



is the best. Personal preference and the use to which the crop is 

 to be put must be the guides in selecting those to be planted. For 

 home use and home canning, one would probably choose different 

 varieties than for shipping or for a canning factory. 



Such diseases of the tomato as leaf spot and fusarium wilt may 

 be prevented by spraying in advance, with Bordeaux mixture. 

 If Paris green or arsenate of lead be added to this, it will take care 

 of the tomato worm at the same time. See directions for preparing 

 Bordeaux mixture in Chapter XXX. 



Egg plant is a hot weather crop. It does not thrive if the plants 

 are set in the garden too early, but to get an early start the seeds 



