PLANTING OUT 79 



and depending on bedding stock a chance to get extra 

 bench room. 



PLANTING IN THE FIELD 



In the Spring, at the approach of planting time, plow 

 the land, giving a liberal dressing of pure ground bone, 

 thoroughly worked in with a revolving disc harrow, after 

 which put on the finishing touches with the levehng harrow 

 and drag, and you are ready to plant. This occurs as soon 

 as all danger of frost is over, which may be as early as 

 April 10 in the latitude of Raleigh, N. C, or May 5 or 6 

 in the latitude of New York. Early planting is advan- 

 tageous. 



Two methods present themselves: 



In the first case, planting in rows about 23/^ ft. apart 

 and 8 in. or 10 in. in the row; second, planting in beds of 

 from 8 to 12 rows each, the plants being 14 in. apart each 

 way. Both systems have their advocates. Those planting 

 in wide rows claim a considerable saving in labor, as the 

 cultivation is by horse or motor power. In spite of this, 

 many prefer the bed system, first, on account of the value 

 of the soil as prepared for planting. Soil that is properly 

 treated is too valuable for one-half of it to be used simply 

 for a horse to walk back and forth upon. Secondly, it may 

 be possible to get a good supply of boys just at the right 

 age to run the hand cultivators; thirdly, a crop of some- 

 thing which might be grown on the other half of the piece 

 will doubtless more than pay for the extra labor required. 

 About 22,000 plants to the acre is the average. In remov- 

 ing the plants from the flats cut them out in squares. 

 Place the roots just deep enough to be covered nicely, only 

 slightly deeper than they were in the flats, and press firmly; 

 this constitutes proper planting. Deep planting is the in- 



