98 :\iai;ket (iakdening 



Fruit finin sdfh plants can ho had in forty to forty-fi\'e 

 days. 



Fertilizers. The soil should be liherally supplied with 

 rotted manure, ploughed under and thoroughly incor- 

 porated with the soil by discing. A high grade, complete 

 fertilizer, containing 4% nitrogen, S'^'o phosphoric acid and 

 10^0 potash, should be applictl at the I'ate of 1000 to 2000 

 pounds per acre just previous to setting the plants in the 

 field. 



Training. In general practice, the plants are set three 

 by three to four by five feet apart, and the plant.s are 

 allowed to rest on the ground as they become larger and 

 bear fruit. Pruning the vines and training them to stakes 

 is sometimes practiced in the field. When the i)lants are to 

 l)c staked and pruned, they should lie set eighteen inches 

 apart in the row. A stake is provided for each plant and 

 the ]")lant is kept prun(^d to a singk' stem. iVftcr a sufRcieni 

 nunif)er of clustei's of fruit have l)een set, the top of the 

 plant is cut off. As the lower leaves Ijccome old and sjjottcd 

 tlu'y should be pruned or entirely cut off'. It is an advan- 

 tage to shake the plants every da>' wlicai they are in blossom 

 to aid in setting the fruits. 



Harvest ng. Tomatoes, whether grown for a local or 

 distant market, should be gathered bcf(.)re becoming 

 entirely ripe. At the height of the season the fruit should 

 l)e gathered every day. 



Tomatoes are marketed in small splint baskets holding 

 five to ten pounds each, also in bushel Ikjxcs and baskets. 



