148 LOCAL SELLING OF MARKET GARDEN PRODUCTS 



Mr. Hallett : I imagine twelve feet each way would be as good 

 as any. 



Question: How many would you leave in a hill.'^ 



Mr. Hallett : If I were to make a record, I would have but one. 



Question: Do you trim the vines at all? 



Mr. Hallett : Not necessarily. It has not been shown that it is 

 practical work. 



Question: Do you have any trouble with the borers .^^ 



Mr. Hallett: No trouble. I suppose our climate has some- 

 thing to do with that. 



Tomatoes are a crop that seems to be put upon the mar- 

 ket in poorer condition than any other. We find it pays 

 better to raise all tomatoes upon the stake, using only smooth 

 varieties, well ripened and free from cracks or bruises. These retail 

 in boxes from two to three pounds, from eight to twelve cents per 

 pound, until later in the season, when they may be sold at reduced 

 prices for canning. The tomato plant is abused, in my opinion, 

 more than all of the other plants we raise. Nearly everyone thinks 

 he must buy at least a dozen and set them out. People will set the 

 plant, and if they can find a shingle, they will drive it down and tie 

 the plant. In a short time, the plant will fall down across the string, 

 cutting off the sap. So I grow all my tomatoes on stakes, really 

 posts. Nearly all of mine are cut five to five and one-half feet in 

 length of hard wood. Tie the plant immediately and see that it is 

 kept tied. My idea in growing tomatoes is to produce the very best 

 tomato possible. Upon a stake you can produce tomatoes nearly 

 every one of which is perfect and well colored and well ripened. 



In picking, we do not take enough care. Every tomato should 

 be picked and the stem removed, so it will not pierce any other 

 tomato. These I put in boxes of from one and one-half to one and 

 three-quarters pounds, selling at early season for twenty -five cents 

 per box, and later dropping to ten. I have another size box, holding 

 three and one-half pounds, which will take just twelve tomatoes of 

 a certain size, a nice size for the table. I do not advocate growing a 

 very large tomato. 



Question: Do you prune your vines 



Mr. Hallett : I keep them trimmed. 



