TRAININGS THE TOMATO.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3590, 13 January 1883, Page 4

TRAININGS THE TOMATO.

In small gardens in America the tomato is grown to perfection, and a writer who is weil up in its cultivation says:—"Where it is desirable both to keep everything in neat trim and to make the most of the limited ground, there is a great advantage in training tomato plants erect to Bft rod or stake, well sharpened and set. Fewer plants are needed; those few occupy much less room than if allowed to sprawl about ; the fruit is not bo liable to rot, and it attains completer size, form, and flavor. The training is so .simple and easy if begun in time that the attention required by a dozen plants is more a pleasant recreative amusement than a weariness. The stake should be set close to the plant ; or. better, the plant close to the stake ; and the growing stem should be led up quite erect, so as to be able to support tbe weight of the fruit and foliage, which may attain to 201b or more. No side brandies are allowed, as they would not have due support, and without it would be so bent or twisted that they could not fill out the fruit on them for want of free direct circulation. Every side branch is nipped out as it appears, but if one is already formed and bearing blossoms, it is best to pinch it so as to leave but one leaf above the blossoms and to confine its growth to that. Both leaves and fruit will soon be larger and thicker for this prompt arrest of all wasteful wanton shoots. A tie at about every eight inches to hold the main stem to the stake—allowing some room for its enlargement—will enable it to cany its burden safely, if the stake is firm enough to resist the wind. This is a much simpler and neater- method than the use of frames, which often cause the plants to strangle either by too great a crowd of shoots, or by the top bending over and becoming constricted by the weight of its fruit.