350 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



Spraying. Most vegetables receive treatment for disease 

 only when the occasion demands it, but Tomatoes growing 

 in the open-air form an exception. In our humid and change- 

 able climate they are particularly liable to attack from fungoid 

 diseases, so much so that the careful cultivator never omits, 

 as an insurance against serious loss, to make periodical 

 spraying with fungicides part of the regular routine of Tomato 

 culture. There is seldom a season when these diseases are 

 quite absent ; such a fortunate occurrence sometimes happens 

 when the weather is warm and dry throughout most of the 

 summer, but these occasions are so rare that they may be left 

 out of the reckoning, and the probability of attack must always 

 be taken into serious account. At the same time, as has been 

 already indicated, much can be done towards securing condi- 

 tions which will offer no encouragement to disease, good 

 drainage, an open situation, sturdy cool-grown plants, with 

 ample space for sun and air to pass freely through the foliage 

 and if these conditions are accompanied by systematic spraying 

 it will indeed be a bad season when the grower fails to obtain 

 at least a fair crop. Full directions regarding fungicides will 

 be found in the chapter devoted to Pests and Diseases. 



Gathering the Fruit. The general temperature and the 

 possibility of damage by birds are the two principal factors to 

 be taken into account in deciding when to gather the fruit. 

 Of late years blackbirds, and in a lesser degree thrushes, have 

 become a perfect pest to the open-air Tomato grower, as indeed 

 they are throughout the summer to all growers of fruit. 

 Where these birds are troublesome, the fruit on the bottom 

 bunches should be gathered and carried under cover to finish 

 as soon as it shows the first faint signs of colour. Beyond the 

 point where they can peck the fruit whilst standing on the 

 ground the birds do no serious damage, and it should then be 

 left on the plant until ready for market. Many growers con- 

 tinue throughout the season to gather the fruit half green, 

 to be finished under cover, but this is a mistake as Tomatoes are 

 of far better quality and appearance, and consequently realise 

 better prices, when despatched to market immediately they are 

 taken from the plant. The prevailing temperature and the 

 destination of the fruit should be taken into consideration in 



