VEGETABLE GAEDENING 79 



the stake, and also near the ground. The tomato 

 plant is then tied with a soft string to the pole 

 or lath at intervals of about a foot. The side 

 branches are thinned, and when the plant has 

 reached a suitable height, the terminal bud is 

 pinched out. Eather severe pruning is best. 



The " three stake " method consists of the use 

 of common plastering lath driven, edge-wise to- 

 wards the center, in a triangular form, the base 

 about ten inches each way, and the top somewhat 

 less. Around the lath, in spiral form, is passed 

 a common binder twine, looping it at each lath. 

 The plant inclosed is trained to grow straight 

 up, extending its side branches through spaces 

 between the lath and the twine. Tolerably severe 

 pruning is advisable, also topping. 



But best of all methods, especially for large 

 areas, is the "Fodder Mulch." This consists of 

 mulching the entire row, on south side only, with 

 any suitable mulch, though corn fodder is the best 

 of all materials for this purpose. Placing this 

 mulch on south side only, allows the foliage to 

 shade the fruit and prevents sun scald. The 

 plants are then trained to lie on the fodder, which 

 affords a clean support for the vines and fruit. 

 The fodder serves to conserve the moisture. It 

 also absorbs extra heat during the hot day, and 

 radiates it at night, thus greatly aiding in early 

 ripening without sunburn. This plan is cheap, 

 quickly done, permits the plant to follow its natu- 

 ral habit of sprawling, or straggling, and will be 

 found to set and ripen more fruit than when the 

 plants are staked, and to ripen them some days 

 earlier. 



