PROPER DISTANCE FOR PLANTING 69 



ing of the soil when gathering the fruit chiefly to these 

 rows an important point in case the soil is wet. The 

 rows can be marked out the day before, but it is better 

 to set the plants in the cross-rows and that these be 

 marked out just ahead of the setters. In this arrange- 

 ment the distances are equivalent to from 2^x4 feet, 



FIG. IQ TOMATOES SOWN AND ALLOWED TO GROW IN HOTBEDS 



requiring 4,300 plants to the acre, to 4x5 feet, requir- 

 ing but about 2,100 plants. The latter distance is that 

 most commonly used by New Jersey growers. 



In the home garden. It will usually be more satis- 

 factory to give each plant plenty of space, setting them 

 5 or 6 feet apart each way, except in the case of the 

 dwarf sorts, which should be from 3^ to 3 feet apart. 

 A few plants at these distances will usually be much 

 more satisfactory than more set nearer together, but 



