Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-05-06
On Raising Tomatoes.

! Set your tomato plants III rows threD and a
half feet apart, aud the distant apart in
the rows. Let the rows be of an even NUM-
. Der. and, if possible, running north and
south, for the better advantage of the sun
shine.
/ Now. beginning with the first couple OF
rows, at one end set pair of stakes in such
manner that they Will enter the ground just
outside of the line of the rows and cross each
other at the height of about four feet over
the middle space. Set corresponding stakes
at the opposite end of the rows, and also
intermediate ones if necessary.
This done, along the outside of these slop-
ing stakes fdsten horizontal strips OF edgIng,
/ beginning with the first about eight inches
I from the ground, and finishing with the one
which will run in the crossing of the stakes.
/ As the plants grow, carefully train them
/ over this framework, securing them in place
by tying with strings, and judiciously trim
ming when needed.
4 After the crop is removed in the fall, the
material of this simple structure may be easl-
lily tlken apart and laid away for the
coming and subsequent season. Now as to
I the peculiar excellcnces of this method:
I l. Increased Produchveness.
/ Thus fastened in place, the plants are not
! liable to injury from being trodden upon, or
/ from violent gusts of wind. by which the
stems are twistei and bruised and besides
/ they are in better position for proper pruning
than when laying in tall masses on the
i ground.
/ 2. 4 Superior Quality of Fruit.
I Growing at some elevation from the ground
i the tomato is kept free from sand and dirt,
/ is not exposed to the ravages of the slug,
/ (nakei snail, and other vermin; and is not
/ SD apt to rot, as when lying in contact with
the damp ground.
4 3. Convenience of Picking.
( By this arrangement, there is ample space
between the sets of rows for good walk,
and the fruit can thus be readily gathered
without damage either to the vines, the cloth
ing, or the temper
! /. Facihty for protecting from Frost.
I In our ch ngeable climate, this is a con-
sidcration of no small account. Eerly in DC
{ tober Of last season. there came - frost,
a killing frost" by which scores of bushels
/ of unripc tomatoes were utterly destroyed,
I in this place, although Efforts were made to
stve them After this - cold spell - we were
1 favored with several weeks of charming
weather, during which my tomatoes, which
hal wholly escaped, kept on ripening in
profuse abund ince,
! 5. B auty Of APPEARANCE:
I Nothing in the line of kitching gardening
can xceed the wholes Jme and pleasing look
of thrifty tomato vines thus managed partic-
ularly after the rare ripe fruit had begun to
I blaze among the dark, green foliage ; and |
am sure that, once adopted, this simple plan
will never give place to the sloven'y practice
of permitting the vines to sprawl over the
ground
Substantially the same results may be
reached when the circumstances render it
desirable to vary this method, in application,
/ by setting the plants along the sunny side,
or, sides of the garden. some two feet from
/ he line, and training them up TO the fence
somewhat after the manner above described.
But, in all cases, see that the soil is deep
sTaded and made fertile by the application
of an abundance Of well-rotted manure.