450 



GARDEN FARMING 



and pass close to the base of the stems of the plants. Strong twine 

 is used between 'the two wires to serve as the support to which 

 the stems of the tomatoes are tied. Plants trained to a single 

 stem are shown in figure 173. The tomatoes should be carefully 

 tied with raffia, which is passed around the supporting strings two 

 or three times so that when a loop is passed under a fruit cluster 

 or leaf the plant will be held to the supporting string and still 

 have sufficient room for the growth and thickening of the stem. 



FIG. 173. Tomato plants trained to single stems 



If the stalk of the plant is tied tightly to the supporting string or 

 wire, it is liable to be girdled. As the fruit clusters develop, it will 

 be necessary to pass a band of raffia under one of the subdivisions 

 of each cluster and around the stem of the plant, or around the sup- 

 porting string, so that the clusters will not be broken off by the weight 

 of the fruit. When broken, the nourishment for the developing 

 fruit is cut off and its growth from that time on is unsatisfactory. 

 Pollination. In the field, where the plants are exposed to the 

 action of wind and the visits of insects, no special care is necessary 

 to insure the pollination of the flowers and the setting of the 

 fruits. Under the abnormal conditions existing in the greenhouse, 



