346 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



no more than if it had been grown in a pot, whilst it is raised with 

 more certainty and much less trouble. Before planting, care 

 must be taken that the soil about the roots is moist throughout ; 

 if dry it would remain so for a long time afterwards, and as a 

 consequence growth would be very slow and uncertain. The 

 plants could, of course, be watered immediately after they are 

 set out, but that would not moisten the ball of soil about 

 the roots so effectually as when done beforehand, and in any 

 case watering directly after transplanting ought always to be 

 avoided when possible, as the roots begin to work more quickly 

 in the new soil if the ball of soil round the roots is moist and 

 no further water is given until growth is perceived. Care 

 must be taken not to set the plants too deeply in the ground. 

 A hole should be made just deep enough to allow the mass of 

 soil and roots to be covered with iin. of new soil, and then 

 each plant should be trodden in very firmly. Plants raised 

 and set out in the manner described will begin to grow and 

 bloom right away, and every bloom will carry abundance of 

 pollen, so that there will be no doubt about the fruit setting, 

 huge trusses being formed within a few inches of the ground 

 in the time softer plants are taking to get established. 



When the growth is to be confined to a single stem, the 

 plants should be set from 15in. to 18in. apart in the row; with 

 two stems, the distance between the plants should be from 2ft. 

 to 2ft. 6in. On strong or rich soil the greater distance is the 

 best, as there "is more lost than gained by too close planting. 

 The rows should run north and south, at an average distance 

 of 3ft. apart, though this can be varied by arranging them at 

 2ft. Gin. and 3ft. Gin. alternately, the wider spaces being more 

 convenient for working amongst the plants and carrying baskets 

 of fruit. 



Supporting the Plants. Some kind of support must be given 

 to the plants to keep them from sprawling on the ground, and 

 whatever shape this takes it should be in place before planting 

 out is begun. Where it is an easy matter to procure sufficient 

 stout stakes, 4ft. to 5ft. long, nothing better is needed, and these 

 should be fixed firmly in the ground, 1ft. deep, at the required 

 distance apart ; at the same time it is a wise precaution to run 

 a wire along each row, a few inches below the tops of the 



