TOMATOES AND EGGPLANTS 201 



we wish to produce the best possible fruit. The 

 arrangement of the hills will be in rows, at least 

 4 feet apart. The distance between the plants will 

 depend on the method of growth and support. 

 When trimmed to only one or two stalks and 

 trained to stakes, 2 feet will be room enough. If 

 the plants are unpruned and supported on frames, 

 twice as much room will be needed. If we try 

 staking the plants, allow 4 feet between rows and 

 2 feet between hills. Prepare the hills deep and 

 broad, making the soil loose and fine. At the bot- 

 tom of the hill, put a small fire-shovelful of the 

 heat-producing stimulating hen-manure. Cover 

 the manure well ; set the plant with the wet soil 

 adhering to the bunch of roots; firm carefully as 

 the hole is filled ; scatter a little tobacco near the 

 surface to keep the cutworms away. Soak each 

 hill thoroughly after the plants are set ; and then 

 give them one application of sodium nitrate. Too 

 much nitrate produces heavy useless foliage and 

 endless stalk growth that keeps on stretching out, 

 in spite of persistent nipping. Too much nitro- 

 gen results in a smaller yield, and the fruit is soft- 

 textured and tends to rot. Give each hill one 

 tablespoonful scattered over a two-foot space or 

 applied in a solution with the sprinkling pot. 

 Then go over the entire strip with the hook to 

 work in the nitrate and, at the same time, form 

 the water-conserving dust mulch. Unless some 

 cloudy weather follows the plant setting, it will 



