Vegetables vnih Edible Fruits 187 



the leaf surface is too small, so much absorbed matter 

 will be sent to them that the tissues and cells become 

 swollen and unable to perform their functions. It should 

 always be kept in mind that one wants to check the growth 

 of the stem and further the formation of fruit, but not to 

 interfere with the production of leaf surface ; so the mere 

 removing of buds and flower-clusters will be the pruning 

 desired. The extent to which pruning can be carried wiU 

 depend largely upon the variety, condition of the weather, 

 and kind of land. A dwarf variety, during dry weather and 

 on poor, dry soil, can be pruned much more severely than a 

 large-growing variety, during a rainy season, on fertile 

 lands ; in fact, the latter will scarcely permit any pruning. 



Staking tomatoes. 



The usual varieties of tomatoes that are grown for north- 

 ern markets have not a strong enough stem to carry the 

 weight of the fruit. Consequently they fall over and the 

 fruit comes in contact with the soil; this renders it un- 

 sightly and also very accessible to attack from insects 

 and fungi. Thus many tomatoes are lost when the vines 

 are not staked and tied. Stakes used for this purpose 

 are about one-and-one-half inches square and three feet 

 long. One of these is driven down by each tomato plant, 

 and the plant tied firmly to this. Some soft wrapping 

 cord is employed. The cord should be wrapped twice 

 around the stake at the proper height and a hard knot 

 tied. Then the string is passed around the tomato 

 plant and the knot tied so as to hold the plant loosely. 

 Staking and tying tomatoes will not be found profitable 

 where land is cheap and labor high priced. (See Plate XII.) 



