144 VEGETABLE FORCING 
of quart size are used by some growers for the starting of 
tomato and cucumber plants. Sometimes the plants are 
not removed from the baskets, but the plant is left intact 
and thus basket and all are set in the bed. 
Soil selection and preparation——Any soil which is 
properly prepared for use in the permanent beds will be 
satisfactory for starting the plants. It should be open 
and porous, so that water will be promptly absorbed and 
the surface of the ground will dry off quickly. As pre- 
viously indicated, the soil should be free from insect pests 
and disease parasites; to avoid trouble from such sources, 
it may be necessary to resort to steam sterilization. 
Fig. 50.—Chamber used for the steam sterilization of soil in flats. (Note that the 
flats are on carts.) 
(Fig. 50.) Some growers prefer to use soil that is not 
quite so fertile as the soil used in the beds. The tendency 
of plants in very rich soil is to make excessive leaf growth 
