50 Teuck Geowing in the South. 



be used to avoid getting a bunch, of fruit between the 

 string and the stake. Unless this is done you will have 

 deformed fruit. The staking prevents sunburn, keeps 

 off cut worms, and allows continual cultivation until ship- 

 ments are half done, which is advisable; but the cultiva- 

 tion should be shallow. The actual yield of tomatoes, 

 when pruned and staked does not exceed the crop other- 

 wise grown, but the difference is that when pruned and 

 staked the gardener gets practically all his crop, and 

 where otherwise grown the sun and worms usually get 

 half. Besides the primed and staked crop yields 80 to 90 

 per cent, fancies, and otherwise only about 50 per cent. 

 fancies. 



Packing. 



The fruit should be picked when fully matured, before 

 any color is shown, using lined baskets. Of course some 

 tomatoes will show color, and some will be nearly full 

 ripe. The bins for packing should be lined with old 

 sacks. Padding of excelsior or moss is good. Field 

 boxes should be provided, and these also padded. The 

 fruit should be picked over once in three days. Carry 

 to the packing house in field boxes. A sorting table 

 should be provided, and four half-bushel picking ba.skets 

 placed in front of the sorter. In one put red tomatoes, 

 in the second slightly colored stock, putting in these two 

 grades fancy and choice together. In third basket put 

 smooth green tomatoes, not less than two and one-half 

 inches in diameter. In the fourth put green smooth toma- 

 toes two to two and one-half inches in diameter, and those 

 which are slightly scarred. Throw away all bad and leaky 



