CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 463 



is a limited area of land available for this crop, is to 

 plant about 2x4 feet apart, drive a strong stake at each 

 plant, and tie up all vines without any pruning. This 

 plan results in a much larger yield to the acre than if this 

 extra work were not done, but the added expense is a 

 very objectionable feature, and the system is seldom 

 used. Various forms of trellises or supports, often used 

 in home gardens, serve to keep the fruit clean and may 

 reduce the percentage of rot. 



656. Harvesting. The proper time of harvesting de- 

 pends upon various factors, as distance from market, 

 character of the weather and danger of frosts. In the 

 far South, tomatoes are usually picked as soon as they 

 show the slightest change in color. This always results 

 in a sacrifice of quality, because the best flavor is de- 

 veloped when the fruits are permitted to remain on the 

 vine until fully ripe. Even for local markets it is cus- 

 tomary to pick the tomatoes before fully ripe, and this 

 is generally necessary in order to have the fruit reach 

 the consumer in solid condition. Tomatoes lose their firm- 

 ness very rapidly in warm weather, so that it is especially 

 important to guard against this trouble in handling the 

 midsummer crop. When there is danger of destructive 

 autumn frosts the only safe policy is to pick every speci- 

 men that shows any change in color. The fruits will 

 continue to ripen in any convenient outbuilding or in the 

 cellar. They also ripen rapidly under hotbed sash or in 

 the greenhouse. Tomatoes should always be handled 

 with the greatest care to avoid bruising. 



657. Marketing. The utmost care should be exercised 

 in preparation for market if highest prices are to be 

 realized. The tomatoes should be cleaned, stems re- 

 moved and then carefully graded. Packages in great 

 variety are used in handling this crop. The bushel bas- 

 ket is used in Michigan (Figure 46) ; bushel box at Bos- 

 ton; baskets of various forms ancj sizes; crates as rep- 



