PROPER DISTANCE FOR PLANTING 69 



ing of the soil when gathering the fruit chiefly to these 

 rows — an important point in case the soil is wet. The 

 rows can be marked out the day before, but it is better 

 to set the plants in the cross-row's and that these be 

 marked out just ahead of the setters. In this arrange- 

 ment the distances are equivalent to from 23/2x4 feet, 



FIG. 19 — TOMATOES SOWN AND ALLOWED TO Cr.OW IN HOTBEDS 



requiring 4,300 plants to the acre, to 4x5 feet, requir- 

 ing but about 2,100 plants. The latter distance is that 

 most commonly used by New Jersey growers. 



In the home garden. — It w'ill usually be more satis- 

 factory to give each plant plenty of space, setting them 

 5 or 6 feet apart each way, except in the case of the 

 dwarf sorts, which should be from 3^^ to 3 feet apart. 

 A few plants at these distances will usually be much 

 more satisfactory than more set nearer together, but 



