WARM SEASON CROPS 



four stakes and keeping the plants in the center 

 of these frames. 



In this way the fruit is kept from touching 

 the ground, it gets more light and air and 

 ripens earlier than when allowed to grow with- 

 out supports. After three or four clusters 

 of fruit have set and the first fruit of the clus- 

 ter is about the size of a silver dollar, the 

 leaves at the base may be pruned back to 

 half. All side shoots from the axils of the 

 leaves should be cut off so that the plant forms 

 a single stem. By removing the suckers, 

 the strength that would naturally go into this 

 young growth will go into the fruit. By 

 pruning the leaves, the ripening process is 

 hastened. 



In some sections of the country, from two to 

 four inches of hay or straw are placed about the 

 plants and between the rows in order to form 

 a mulch and help hold the moisture, but this is 

 not as good a practice as clean, vigorous culti- 

 vation. 



Never plant tomatoes in too rich soil or they 

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