212 GARDEN STEPS 



down, about fifteen inches apart on the vine. The 

 sods should be about three inches wide, and six 

 inches long, just heavy enough to hold the vine in 

 place. New roots will form under the sod, and the 

 vines will gain so much added strength that the crop 

 will be practically doubled ; the vines will thrive, 

 even in the long, dry spells which are frequently 

 encountered in August just as the fruit is ripening. 



Picking 



Do not leave the fruit on the vines to ripen. It 

 is better to pick it as soon as it is turning pink and 

 put it in a dark place. If you want the fruit as 

 soon as possible, have the temperature warm where 

 the tomatoes are kept, as warmth will ripen them 

 more quickly. If they are coming on as fast as 

 needed, it is better to keep them cool. A box or a 

 drawer in the pantry answers well. 



Advantages of Ripening Tomatoes in the Dark. — 

 By picking the fruit in this way a good deal is 

 gained. As the chief drain on a plant comes in 

 ripening the fruit and seeds, the more we can save 

 it from this drain, the greater strength it will have 

 for developing the fruit left on the vines and for 

 setting new tomatoes. If well cared for, the plants 

 will continue to blossom and form fruit till checked 

 by the cold. 



By gathering the fruit before it is ripe, you get it 

 in better condition, for stray bugs or worms may 



