VEGETABLE PLANTS. 2/ 



tion to the amount of top, the more valuable 

 is a plant considered when ready to plant out 

 in its final stand in the field. For these rea- 

 sons, in order to produce strictly first-class 

 tomato plants, it is considered necessary that 

 they be transplanted two or three times before 

 being offered for sale or planted out. 



To do this work correctly and rapidly is no 

 mean accomplishment, for it will not bear 

 slighting. Here is one of the advantages of 

 having the young plants in flats, as above 

 described, as they can be taken out of the beds, 

 placed upon a table, and the operator allowed 

 to sit in a natural position while transplanting 

 into other flats or boxes which are put in a 

 suitable place in the bed. Where these are 

 not used, but a solid floor, covered by a con- 

 tinuous bed of dirt, instead, the transplanting 

 becomes a more laborious business ; but this 

 method has one advantage, at least, in its favor ; 

 that is, a greater depth of soil can be used than 

 can be handled readily in flats, hence less 

 watering, and less liability to dry out rapidly 

 when not closely watched. In transplanting 

 in a permanent or immovable bed, the opera- 

 tor lies upon his breast on a wide board which 

 spans the bed crosswise. A thin strip of 



