138 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



adapted to tomato growing. Another very important 

 point in locating a tomato field is that we should see to 

 having a good wind break to the north, east, and west. 

 A great many cold winds that are not severe enough 

 to freeze will be harmful to the plants. In fact, any 

 temperature below 45 will be found very detrimental 

 to the plants, and this will be all the more so if accom- 

 panied by high winds, as these carry the warmth away 

 from the plants and soil very rapidly. It is not an un- 

 common thing to find that the only tomato plants 

 which survived the cold spell are those that were shel- 

 tered from the wind by a dense hammock or grove. 



PREPARING THE FIELD. 



A sandy loam needs very little preparation before 

 transplanting. In fact, it is usually sufficient to work 

 merely a portion of the soil along where the row is to 

 stand. All dead roots, brush, or debris should be re- 

 moved so that it will not interfere with later cul- 

 tivation. A two- horse plow may then be used to open 

 out a double furrow where the row is to stand, and 

 the fertilizer worked in this furrow. A portion of it 

 being scattered in the bottom and some of the soil 

 worked on to this, then apply another portion of the 

 fertilizer and work more soil into the furrow, and so on 

 until all the fertilizer has been used. If the plants 

 are to be put in checks four by four feet, the fertilizer 

 may be applied in these checks. Often a portion of 

 the fertilizer is held baek and applied after the plants 

 have begun to set fruit. Careful experiments have in- 

 dicated that where the soil is more or less retentive, 

 nothing is gained, and, indeed, something is lost by 

 appplying the fertilizer at different times. If the sea- 

 son is quite moist the ground will be ready to receive 

 the plants in a week after fertilizing. If, however, 

 the soil remains unusually dry it may be much longer. 



