THE TOMATO 245 



dance of sunlight. The vines should be pruned at the time 

 of transplanting or soon afterwards by pinching off the 

 suckers, or secondary leaf buds, found in the axils of the 

 leaves. This will cause the plant to grow tall instead of 

 spreading out. After each vine has developed four or five 

 clusters of fruit the top bud should be pinched off to prevent 

 the plant from growing too high. 



Staking. The method of pruning described requires 

 staking to support the vines. For this purpose a single, 

 stake may be driven beside each hill, or a continuous meshed 

 wire or other form of fence may be used. Soft twine or 

 cloth should be used for tying* the vines. No loop should 

 be drawn tightly around the plant. 



Spraying. The tomato vines should be thoroughly 

 sprayed with Bordeaux mixture several times during the 

 season. The first spray should be given about the time the 

 first fruit begins to form, or even earlier if the season is 

 warm and moist. This will prevent the plants from being 

 attacked by mildew. Remove at once any tomatoes that 

 show a brownish discolored area about the blossom end. 

 This will prevent the spread of disease. 



4. Harvesting and Marketing 



Gathering the crop. Tomatoes should be gathered 

 when ripe and firm and should be handled with great care 

 to prevent crushing or bruising. For marketing they should 

 be graded in three classes, prime, medium and culls. The 

 more nearly uniform in size, shape and color, the more will 

 the market offer for the product. 



Canning. Tomatoes for canning purposes should be 

 thoroughly ripened and be of a deep red color, smooth 

 and firm. They should be canned whole so as to permit 

 the use of the tomato in as many different ways as is pos- 



