140 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



it should not cost more than $1 to $2 to set out an acre 

 of tomatoes, including the sets. Various labor saving, 

 or so called short cus, have also been resorted to by 

 tomato growers. One that has been recommended by 

 several tomato growers is to plow out a furrow with a 

 one-horse plow and drop tomato plants along this fur- 

 row at proper intervals. The plants are so dropped that 

 the heads all project to one side of the furrow. A 

 small furrow is then thrown upon their roots, care be- 

 ing exercised not to cover them too far. The plow is 

 then run down the outer side of the row, which will 

 set the plants more or less erect. For such an opera- 

 tion it will be necessary to have plants that are more 

 or less drawn out, and usually considered too large for 

 transplanting. This method is too slip shod for ordi- 

 nary success, but some portions of it may he used to 

 advantage. 



A handy setting- out tray may be made very cheaply 

 by using an ordinary soap box that is six inches deep, 

 twelve or fourteen inches wide, and ten inches long. 

 One end of this is knocked out and a bale fastened 

 from one side to the other. The plants may be car- 

 ried in this to the field, and, as they are wanted, taken 

 out of the open end to place in position. 



CULTIVATING. 



This work is simple and not laborious. While most 

 of it is performed by a one horse plow, much time and 

 labor could be saved by using a two horse plow ; this 

 cannot be used to advantage in fields that contain many 

 stumps. The ordinary two horse corn plows that are 

 used by the farmers of the West could be used with 

 profit. As soon as the tomatoes begin to show bloom 

 or set fruit much care should be taken not to disturb 

 the roots, as this is liable to shock the plants and cause 

 the blooms to fall. 



