50 TRUCK FARMING 



of growing not over two plants to the inch of row. The rows 

 should be placed from ten to fourteen inches apart, and the 

 seed-bed should be amply large enough to grow approximately 

 twice as many plants as the trucker contemplates setting out. 

 This surplus, should there be any, can generally be disposed of at 

 a remunerative figure to other growers. 



Covering of the seed should be done very lightly, from one- 

 eighth to one-fourth inch of soil being applied over the seed. 

 These seed beds should be sown fortnightly throughout the 

 tomato planting season, so the grower will at all times have a 

 surplus of fine plants on hand. Then in case a field should suffer 

 by frost, he is in a position to replant at once. This seed-bed at 

 all times should be kept thoroughly moist, and particular care 

 must be given to this until the sprouts show above the surface of 

 the ground. As soon as the seedlings show above the ground, any 

 part of the bed that came up too thick should be thinned out at 

 once, otherwise the plants will be leggy, and will not stand trans- 

 planting well. In case of extra heavy rains after the plants are 

 up, a light cultivation should be given, and a light application 

 of nitrate of soda applied at once. I have also found it advisable 

 to apply a dusting of sulphur to the surface of the beds before the 

 last raking, thus preventing to a great extent the disease known 

 as "damping off." 



I consider well grown plants, the most valuable adjunct to 

 the tomato crop. They should, if properly grown, be six or seven 

 inches tall and the diameter of a lead pencil when five or six 

 weeks old, the weather being favorable. 



Great care must be taken in removing them from the bed to 

 see that they are not bruised, or allowed to lie exposed to the 

 sun or weather; in fact, I find a tender young plant will stand 

 exposure to the air and sunshine about as long as a fish can 

 ordinarily be kept out of water without succumbing. 



I find it a splendid idea to remove the entire lot of plants which 

 you contemplate, setting out for one day's work, early in the 

 morning while the dew is on them, packing them rather tightly in 

 boxes and storing them in a shady place with canvas or burlaps 



