Vegetables with Edible Fruits 185 



bulk of the crop is still transplanted by hand, and as this 

 is not an especially expensive operation, it will be continued 

 for many years. A man or strong boy can set out an 

 acre of tomatoes in a day. Consequently, it should not 

 cost more than $1 to $2 to set out an acre of tomatoes, in- 

 cluding the sets. Various labor-saving devices, or so- 

 called short cuts, have been resorted to by tomato-growers. 

 One that has been recommended is to plow out a furrow 

 with a one-horse plow and drop tomato plants along this 

 furrow at proper intervals. The plants are so dropped 

 that the heads project to one side of the furrow. The soil 

 from a small furrow is then throw upon their roots, care 

 being exercised not to cover them too far. The plow is 

 then run down the outer side of the row, which will 

 set the plants more or less erect. For such an operation 

 it will be necessary to have plants that are more or less 

 drawn out, and usually considered too large for trans- 

 planting. 



A convenient setting-out tray may be made cheaply 

 by using an ordinary soap box that is 6 inches deep, 12 or 

 14 inches wide, and 10 inches long. One end of this is 

 knocked out and a bail fastened from one side to the other. 

 The plants may be carried in this to the field, and, as they 

 are wanted, taken out of the open end to place in position. 



Cultivating. 



Cultivating tomatoes is simple and not laborious. Most 

 of it is performed by a one-horse cultivator. As soon as 

 the tomatoes begin to show bloom or set fruit, much care 

 should be taken not to disturb the roots, as this is liable 

 to shock the plants and cause the bloom to fall. 



