THE GROWING OF VARIOUS VEGETABLES 



the ground produce more fruit than when grown 

 on racks, for this reason: as soon as the plants 

 have attained much size, they become recumbent, 

 lying on the ground, and wherever a joint of a 

 branch touches the ground, it immediately makes 

 roots and so begins to draw nourishment from the 

 soil, and is for this reason better able to produce 

 an abundant crop than the plant grown upright 

 on a frame with but one supporting root. 



Keep the plants well cultivated and free from 

 weeds. As soon as the plant begins to blossom 

 pinch off the ends of the shoots beyond the flowers 

 that fruit may set early. This will materially hasten 

 the ripening of the first fruit set. 



In the fall, at the approach of hard frost, the 

 green tomatoes may be gathered and placed on 

 racks in a warm, sunny position, where they will 

 continue to ripen for some time, or the plants may 

 be dug up, the roots wrapped in burlap, and hung 

 in a warm, sunny place, where the fruit will ripen 

 very well; I have kept them in the barn until No- 

 vember in this way. Or use may be made of an 

 empty hotbed, in which the green tomatoes are 

 placed on racks or on a bed of straw, and so con- 

 tinue to enjoy them far beyond their usual season. 



[135] 



