THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 359 



follows : Instead of attempting to set the plant deeply and maintain 

 it in an upright position, remove all except three or four of the top- 

 most leaves about the growing point. Dig a shallow trench along the 

 row a trench 3 or 4 inches deep slightly sloping from a deep point 

 at one end to the surface of the ground at the other. Place the bare 

 stem of the tomato and the root in this trench, with the root in the 

 deepest portion, cover the stem throughout its length with fresh soil, 

 and pack this firmly. Under these conditions the plant will take root 

 throughout the length of the buried stem, and in a short time the 

 added root system which is thus given the plant will force it into 

 vigorous growth. Plants of this character which are to be grown on 

 an extensive scale are never trained. They are allowed to grow at 

 will, and the fruits are gathered as they ripen without special atten- 

 tion to keep them off the ground or otherwise to care for them. 



Length of Season. The season of fruit production is longer in 

 the higher than in the lower latitudes. This is a rather interesting 

 and unexpected condition. Normally one would expect to find that 

 the tomato would begin maturing its fruit earlier and would continue 

 bearing longer in the latitude of the city of Washington than it would 

 in the latitude of Boston ; but this is not the case. Tomatoes in the 

 latitude of Washington and south of this point come into bearing, 

 quickly produce a heavy flush of fruit, and then refuse to do more, 

 and in order to have a continuous supply throughout the season it is 

 necessary for market gardeners and truckers to plant seeds in suc- 

 cession so as to keep up a continuous supply. 



Fertilizers. Since the tomato is grown exclusively for its fruit, 

 those fertilizers which induce a large growth of plant and foliage are 

 not desirable in the production of this crop. Soils vary greatly in 

 regard to the quantity of available plant food they contain. The use 

 of a fertilizer is determined largely by the character, mechanical con- 

 dition, and composition of the soil. If a soil is deficient in all the 

 essential elements of plant food nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric 

 acid the application of any one or even two of them will not 

 materially influence the yield of the crop. On the other hand, on 

 soils deficient only in potash or phosphoric acid, or both, little would 

 be gained by adding nitrogen, which is already in excess, to the other 

 element or elements to be applied. Economy of operation, as well as 

 the general effect upon the soil, must also be considered. This may 

 be influenced by the character of the season, but should be based on 

 the increased yield and increased net receipts of the crop. 



As a general rule, readily soluble, "quick-acting" fertilizers 

 which produce an early growth and early ripening of the crop are 

 most desirable. Heavy dressings of stable manure tend to produce 

 too much vine, and are seldom or never employed. If stable manure 

 is used it is at a moderate rate, usually not more than one or two 

 shovelfuls to a plant. This, if well decomposed and thoroughly incor- 

 porated with the soil, is very stimulating to the young plant and 

 consequently very beneficial. Any fertilizer used should be applied, 

 in part at least, at the time the plants are transplanted to the field. 



Cultivation. As soon as the young seedling plants from the hot- 



