Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1869 — Tomatoes—How to Ripen Them Early. [ARTICLE]

Tomatoes—How to Ripen Them Early.

First, have stout, tapering plants, by giving them plenty of room, sunlight and air, from the commencement of growth Then study the habits of the plant, and you will see that, from the main stem, it throws out, at intervals, long rough leaves; and at a later period, from above the junction of these leaves with the stem, start out secondary stems with the same habits as the original. These continue to multiply themselves until you have a large vise, and plenty of small green fruit, necessarily late in ripening, for the reason that the force of the plant has been spending in producing vine. Do not wait thus long and think to remedy the matter by slashing off the vine at random, to let in sunlight, as isa common practice. Begin with the plant in time, and train it to suit you. ===== The time to begin trimming is just when the first cluster of flower buds appear. This will generally be at the junction of thq further filth leaf mentioned. At this time the secondary steins will be seen just starting above the junction of all the leaves below. Here begin your work. Pinch them all off at once, and when they start out again, as they will, pinch off again until you conquer. You have now stopped the making of vine below this cluster of flower buds, and all the strength and juices of the plant are sent upwards pushing forward the cluster of flowers and the secondary stems above. After a little, commence your work above, and pinch off all these secondary stems, except enough to leave five or six clusters of fruit. Your vine, so long as you continue to pinch off these stems, is checked both top and bottom. Keep it tied up to a strong stake, and in due time your vine will be almost completely hidden by a mass of ripe fruit, all in the sunlight. By this process I have not failed for several years having my first ripe tomatoes the last of July, and last year on the twenty-fourth. A little observation and «kill will supply what further might be added, but for making this paper too lengthy. Rich soils can do ro harm to the tomato. —Mural New Yorker.