144 



VEGETABLE FORCING 



of quart size are used by some growers for the starting of 

 tomato and cucumber plants. Sometimes the plants are 

 not removed from the baskets, but the plant is left intact 

 and thus basket and all are set in the bed. 



Soil selection and preparation. Any soil which is 

 properly prepared for use in the permanent beds will be 

 satisfactory for starting the plants. It should be 1 * open 

 and porous, so tjgit water will be promptly absorbed and 

 the surface of trie ground will dry off quickly. As pre- 

 viously indicated, the soil should be free from insect pests 

 and disease parasites ; to avoid trouble from such sources, 

 it may be necessary to resort to steam sterilization. 



Fig. 50. Chamber used for the steam sterilization of soil in flats. (Note that the 

 flats are on carts.) 



(Fig. 50.) Some growers prefer to use soil that is not 

 quite so fertile as the soil used in the beds. The tendency 

 of plants in very rich soil is to make excessive leaf growth 



