commenced setting in the garden, using ten plants in each plat, inserting them 3 feet apart in the row and the rows 5 feet apart.

CUTTING BACK.

The object of pruning was to check the growth in leading shoots, thus inducing new branches to be thrown out near the roots, making the plants low, stocky and bushy. We commenced the operation soon after the plants had become well established, and repeated at intervals of three weeks, until half the crop had matured. About two inches of the tips were removed at each pruning. When the plants came into bearing, they were round and well formed, and we naturally expected a decided increase in yield. But trimming did not hasten maturity or earliness except in one instance, when a day was gained. Trimming decreased the productiveness by weight in every case. It is doubtful whether cutting back is an advantage in this climate. Our experiments indicate that the practice is a disadvantage.

ONE, TWO OR THREE-STEM TRAINING.

Our objects were to secure data on the relative ripening periods and influence on the quality and quantity of the fruit. The plants were supported to stakes, by means of raffia, at intervals of a foot or more, and all side shoots pinched off as fast as they appeared. In case of one-stem pruning, the stocks grew very large, frequently measuring over an inch in diameter near the ground.

Ripe fruit was picked almost a week earlier on plants trained to two stems, but in very limited quantities. The bulk of the crop ripened sooner on the one-stem plants than on those trained to two stems, and there was little if any difference in the date of maturity in the two and three-stem plants. Most of fruit on the trained plants ripened very much earlier than that on vines not trained. Increase of earliness is of great importance, since early tomatoes always command good prices.

There was a regular increase in the number of fruits from onestem plants to those not trained. But the fact most evident was the large size of individual tomatoes on the one and the two-stem plants, being a third larger than those harvested from the vines not trained. There was also a regular increase by weight of the unsound specimens, being the greatest on plants not trained. When plants are trained to one or two stems they should be set about fifteen inches apart in rows, and the rows three or three and one-half feet apart. If set in this manner the yield would be much greater than when grown at the usual distance and by the most commonly practiced methods. The advantages to Le gained are increased earliness, improved quality of fruit and greater yield if planted at the proper distance.

SUPPORTS FOR PLANTS.

Besides the use of stakes, we employ wire, stretching between heavy posts driven in the soil at intervals of forty feet, and supported every six or seven feet with light stakes. Common tar cord answers the purpose equally well, and does not cut the plants so seriously. An A frame, erected between the rows, so that the plants could be trained on both sides, gave excellent results. Another low frame, that kept the plants about fourteen inches from the ground, proved quite satisfactory. A method extensively practiced in some parts of the State is to place fragments of brush under the vines before they begin to recline and spread, thus holding the fruit from the soil and reducing the percentage of rot. With this method we obtained the largest yield, but did not like the practice on account of unattractive and disorderly appearance of the brush and inconvenience of gathering.

EARLY AND LATE SETTING.

Most of our tomato plants were set in the field May 6th, but desiring to ascertain the effect of holding plants and setting at later dates, we reserved several boxes and watered the plants sparingly so that further growth would be retarded. May 16th a second planting was performed and another lot was inserted May 26th. Even May 6th is late planting for this locality.

Plants set May 6th ripened fruit twenty days earlier than those put out May 26th. The May 6th setting gave the largest yield, but plants set ten days later were not so productive as ones set on the 26th.

DEEP AND SHALLOW SETTING.

Several plants were used to determine the effect of deep and shallow setting. In one instance very deep holes were made, and the plants measuring ten inches in height were inserted so that about three inches of the tops remained above ground. In the second case, they were planted at medium depths, and another lot was set very shallow, not exceeding two inches in depth. Dry weather continued for two weeks after placing in the field, and the plants set very deep remained strong and vigorous, while the others lost their green healthy appearance.

This experiment showed no difference in the date of ripening. Productiveness was greatest with plants set a medium depth, while those set very shallow did not yield so well as the deeply set ones, the difference, however, being very small. Individual fruits were also larger on plants set at medium depth. Our experiments indicate that deep setting is unnecessary.

THE EFFECT OF LIQUID MANURE.

To determine the effect of manure liquor when a given amount is applied at the time of setting, or at intervals, several plants were subjected to various treatments. In one instance two quarts of liquor were poured upon each plant at the time of setting. One pint to each plant, used at intervals of three weeks, formed another trial. And thirdly, one pint was applied at intervals of one week from the date of first ripe fruit.

No definite conclusion could be drawn from the experiments. The plants on which manure liquor was not used were somewhat more productive.

ONE OR TWO TRANSPLANTINGS.

Tomatoes not transplanted ripened specimens nearly a month later than the transplanted ones. The yield was also greatly reduced, being less than half that of plants which received one shifting. One transplanting gave better results than two. Were pots used instead of flats, perhaps the result would be different.

CUTTINGS AND SEEDLINGS.

In the greenhouse experiments performed last winter, all the plants used were grown from cuttings. The yield was not so large as we had expected, and the question at one presented itself, had we made a mistake by employing cuttings. To determine this matter in our soil and climate, two lots of plants were set, one of good seedlings and the other of strong, well-rooted cuttings.

There was two days difference in the earliness. Seedlings produced the greatest number of tomatoes, which weighed a few pounds more than the product of cuttings, but individual specimens from cuttings averaged one-fifth more in weight.

OLD AND YOUNG PLANTS.

An experiment conducted with interest was a comparative test of young seedlings with old plants that had been carried through the winter. The old plants, wintered in flats and set three inches apart, had grown about eighteen inches in height and contained very few lower leaves. At the time of setting they were eight months old, and it was necessary to twine the roots about the hole in a spiral manner in order to make them stand erect. The first ripe fruit appeared on both lots July 19th. Thirty-eight more tomatoes were produced on the old plants, but the weight was the same in each case, being forty-seven pounds.

CUTTING BACK AT TRANSPLANTING.

Two years ago the writer attended a farmer's institute in this State, where a tomato grower made the statement that cutting back strong, vigorous plants at the time of setting in the field,