Rural School Leaflet 1075 



Transplanting. — If tomatoes or other plants are raised in a hotbed, 

 cold-frame, or seed bed, they should be removed with the largest amount 

 of root surface possible and placed in the garden in the straight row 

 planned for them, at the proper distance apart, in the following manner: 

 With a trowel dig a hole larger than the plant roots need; fine the earth; 

 set the roots of the plant slightly deeper in this fine earth than they 

 grew; cover them with dirt; press hard; fill in more dirt, pressing now 

 and then, until the level of the soil is reached. The plant will then be 

 transplanted in such a way that it will have the best opportunity to grow. 



Thinning. — If the plants come up too thickly they should be thinned 

 according to directions given in the table under the heading " Distance 

 apart of plants in row." This is necessary in order to give the remaining 

 plants the space that they require for the best growth. 



Cultivating. — There are two things necessary for good cultivation — 

 keep them in mind: first, absence of weeds; second, the surface soil 

 should be loose at all times. This can easily be done with the hand, the hoe, 

 and the rake. Pull out the weeds, hoe around the plants, rake after hoeing. 



Watering. — If the season is exceptionally dry, water may be necessary 

 for success in obtaining good growth. The hose, watering-can, or pails 

 can be used. However, good culture from the beginning is the most 

 important factor in maintaining the water supply. 



Insects and diseases. — Insects can be controlled somewhat by hand- 

 picking. Diseases may be controlled by keeping the plants in a thrifty, 

 continuously growing condition, by giving good culture, by watering, and 

 by adding manure dissolved in water much diluted. 



