Show ADVISABLE TO PRUNE AND STAKE TOMATOES question Is asked every year BI B many gardeners advantages are that larger number of plants can be set on given area quality of fruit frit la is usually much better does it pay to prune tomato vines to a single stem and tie tic them to stakes or to a trellis this question is asked every year by thousands of home gardeners it does pay according to united states department of agriculture specialists especially if 1 tile space for garden purposes cs Is limited and it Is desired to make the best use ot of it tomato plants if left to thenis themselves elves have a habit of spreading nil all over the garden and of prodoc ing their fruit ault right light on oil tile the ground where it becomes covered with dirt every time there Is a rain advantages of pruning and staking slaking tomatoes are that a larger number of plants con can be set on a given area than by the ordinary method the fruit will ripen a little lithe earlier on oil tile the plants that are pruned and staked and the lie fruit Is held oft off the ground I 1 is s clean and easy to gather while the individual plants do not produce so large a quantity of fruit as when nhen they are alloi allowed ed to spread upon the ground at least three times as many plants can be set on a given area thereby actually increasing tile the quantity of tomatoes produced produce il the quality of the fruit Is usually better on the plants that are pruned and tied to stakes small round poles about four feet in length sharpened at one end make the most desirable tomato stakes for the home borne garden the best proof that staking tomatoes pays is found in the fact that the best home bome gardeners follow the practice |