Training the Tomato.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 3038, 26 October 1888, Page 3

Training the Tomato.

Iu small gardens, in America tho tomato is grown to porfootion, and a writer who is well up in its cultivaItion says:-"Where it is desirable both to keep every thing in heat trim mid to nuiko the most of the limited ground, there is'& groat advantage in trainirig tomato plants erect to an Bft rod or stake, well sharpened and set, Fwer plants are needed; these occupy much less room than jf allowed to sprawl about; tlip fruit is notsoliablo to rot, and it attains a completer size form, and flavour. The training is so simple and oasy if begun in time that the attention required by a dozen plants is more a pleasant recreative amusement than a weariness, The stake should bo set noxt to the plant, or, better, tho plant'close tothostako; mid the growing stem should bo led upquite., erect, so as to bo able to support tho weight of the fruit and foliago, which may attain to 201b or more. No sido branches are allowed, as tbey would be so bent or twisted that they could not fill out tho fruit on them for want of free direct circulation. Every sido brunch'is nipped off as it appears, but if one is already formed and bearing blossoms, it is best to pinch it so as to loavo one leaf above the blossoms and to confmo the 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 tho stake--al-lowing some room for its enlargement, will enable it to carry its burden safely, if the stako is firm enough to resist the wind, This is a much simpler and neater method than the use of frames, which often cause the shoots to strangle either by too great a crowd of shoots or by the top bending over and becoming coustiicted by the weight of its fruit.

Tragedy on a Swiss Lake,

A telegram from Borne which lias been received in Paris gives an account of an extraordinary drama which has just occurred on the Lake of Bienno.. A journeyman watchmaker living at Saint Imior, had fallon violently in love with a young lady in the neighborhood, who returned his passion. She was of remarkablo boauty, and as soon as her family heard of the affair every attempt was made to put a stop to the meeting of the couple, 'A day or two ago they contrived to elude the vigilance of the girl's relatives, and travelled through to Bienne, where they passed the night. The next morning they hired a boat, and when they had got about 250 yards from the shore the man was Been to attach the anchor rope to his companion's body, after which, producing a knife, he attempted to opon a vein iu hor arm, Meanwhile tho spectators of this decidedly unpleasant scene had sprang into the boats which were lying near, and were pulling with tho utmost energy towards that in whioh tho watchmaker and tho girl were seated, Perceiving that they would not long be left to carry out their work of solf-desti'Hction unmolested, tho man threw down the knife, and, seizing a revolver, fired twice at, his companion, but without wounding hor, He then turned tho weapon against his own broast, and, seizing the girl round the waist, he sprang with her into the lake, Tho would-be-preservers arrived too late at tho spot, and it was some time before tho bodies could bo recovered. The girl and her paramour—who was a married man with four ohildren—woro tightly locked in oach others arms.