Tomatoes. 49 



Distance in Setting. 



For general field culture, where vines are not pruned 

 they should be set in rows five feet apart and 30' inches in 

 the row; if plants are pruned and topped, four and one- 

 half foot rows and 18 inch in drill is the proper distance. 



Pkuning. 



While this method of growing tomatoes may seem ex 

 pensive to the novice, the writer has found it profitable 

 where there is an assurance of a good crop. The process 

 is as follows: After the plants have begun to grow and 

 suckers are one or two inches long, go over once a week, 

 rubbing off all suckers, except the one immediately below 

 the first fruit stem, to grow until five bunches of fruit 

 have been set on both branches. Then top both the 

 branch and the main stalk, allowing no more fruit to be 

 set. This checking the growth of the plant will cause 

 the leaves and the stems to grow abnormally large, and 

 throw an unusual amount of nutriment into the fruit, 

 causing it to grow rapidly and become very solid and firm. 

 After topping the field should be gone over two or three 

 times and all sucker growth kept down, and the fruit 

 should be examined carefully while small and all cracked 

 or deformed fruit pulled off. This with a fair season 

 will insure a crop of tomatoes running eighty to ninety 

 per cent, fancy, and the stock will be firm and solid, com- 

 manding the highest price. I would in all cases recom- 

 mend staking in addition to pruning. Three foot stakes 

 should be driven in four inches of the plant, and the plant 

 tied to the stake with a soft twine. In tying care should 



