,7= SOLANACEOUS 



CROPS 



if it does not get frost. We have proved by ex- 

 periment that the yield is greatly increased by 

 early transplanting. There is a profit in that. 



Tomatoes give earlier and better results where 

 the vines are trained, but that is only possible 

 in small gardens. Where the plants are grown 

 for canning, little attention is given them after 

 transplanting to the field. Losses from rot are 

 of course much larger there, but this cannot well 

 be avoided. 



In small gardens they are pruned to a single 

 stem. Strong stakes are driven into the ground 

 and cords are stretched between them horizon- 

 tally at top and bottom. From these horizon- 

 tal cords you may run perpendicular strings, to 

 one of which each plant is tied. Plants pruned 

 and tied up in this way, may be placed as close 

 together as 18 inches, while if left to spread 

 they require from three to four feet of space. 



By pruning is meant the pinching out of each 

 side branch as it appears, compelling the plant 

 to put aU its growth into one parent stem. 

 Some growers even go so far as to cut off the 

 tops of the plant as soon as three clusters of 

 fruit are formed. I have cut off whole branches 

 where the vines were too thick, without apparent 

 injury. All this decreases the quantity of fruit 

 that each plant will produce, but it greatly in- 



