The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-04
THE FARM AND THE GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO AGRI-
CULTURALIsT AND HOUSEWIFE.

Two Methods of Growing Tomatoes
Some Historical Trees and Vines.
Plea for the Birds-COwpeas for
Poultry.
Now and then it may be very profit
able crops of tomatoes are grown by
allowing the vines to lie on the ground,
but as a rule it is far more satisfac-
tory to have the vines supported so
as to keep the fruit Cor 80 per cent. of
it, from contact with the soil. Ordin-
arily. two acres thus grown will yield
as much, if not more, than three
acres with the vines sprawling on the
ground. Especially in wet seasons,
when the vines are beaten down close
to the soil the loss is very great from
rot, sometimes amounting to so per
cent of the crop.
There is only one way of growing
same time keep the larger part of the
fruit from contact with the soil, and
that is by adopting the double row
plan. Instead of having the rows uni
formly three or four feet, with plants
every three feet in the row, they are
laid off so that there is only distance
of two feet between the first and sec
ond row and four feet between the
second and third rows. thus having
double rows alternately. By having the
plants set thus ii is practicable 10
make them support each other in such
a way that 80 per cent. OF the fruit
will be kept free of the soil. Several
times we have cultivated five acres in
this manner with the very best results
The plants are set two and one-half
feet or three feet apart in the rows
Just before they get large enough 10
fall over the narrow middle is plowed
out for the last time. In the hoeing
that follows the vines are inclined 10
wards each other over the narrow
middle The wide middle of four feet
is cultivated two or three times after
wards with cultiVatOr or harrow
or sweep. AS the fruit be-
gins to ripen the picker
keeps in the wide row. After each hard
rain a little care is given to the vines
That is any that are beaten down are
lifted up and propped against the OPP
pcsite vine. 1t involves very little trou-
ele and is quite effective in SAVING
1Tult tnaL NOulu Olu6A W lSS lOb. II 10
the only way 10 prevent this without
the use of stakes.
For twenty years we have grown
tomatoes very satisfactorily by plant
ing the dwarf kinds, aristocrat and
champion, setting two OF three vines
to each stake These kinds can be.
should be, planted much thicker than
sorts like the beauty or acme, and the
like With rows three feet apart
stakes should be set 80 or sc inches in
the row On each side of the stake 8
or 10 inches from it, set a plant, and
before they get too large to fall over
draw towards the stake and encircle
with band or cord. Have the stakes
feet long and drive into the earth 10
or II ssinches. On good
tomato s tpYards soil it will
require two bands sooner or later
to keep the vines to the stakes. Some
times it is better to use three plants
to the stake in a triangle, u to Il
inches apart. A quarter of an acre thus
planted makes a pretty show. Each
hill of three plants will, from first to
last yield at least a half bushel OF
tomatoes if the soil is good and {
choice strain of seeds used. BY al
means save seeds from the healthieS
vines and from finest specimens of thu
staked and get two feet high pinch
the ends off. 1t makes a pretty sight
to plant one Vine each of aristocrat,
yellow champion and crimson cham
Iton around one stake. S. A. c.