264 VEGETABLE FORCING. 
For many years New England growers have used 
raised benches for the forcing of tomatoes, and they are 
now extensively employed in the Kennett Square section 
of Pennsylvania. (See Fig. 85.) There is a disposition, 
however, among growers in all sections to abandon the 
use of benches and to plant in solid ground beds, except 
when the crop is grown during the winter months. In 
the Ohio and Irondequoit (N. Y.) vegetable-forcing dis- 
tricts, ground beds are used almost exclusively, but the 
tomato, in these sections, is forced mainly as a spring 
crop. The great barrier to the use of benches in any 
locality is their cost of construction and maintenance, 
Leaving the expense factor out of consideration, what 
are the merits of benches as compared with ground beds 
for the forcing of tomatoes? The tomato is a plant that 
requires a large amount of heat. For this reason, the 
plants grow more rapidly on benches with bottom heat 
than they do in ground beds. There is a difference of 10 
days to two weeks in the maturity of the crop, if grown 
at midwinter. Even the spring crop will reach the ripen- 
ing period quicker if there is bottom heat. On the other 
hand, it is claimed by- experienced growers that total 
yields are greater from ground beds, so that earliness in 
the ripening of fruit from the benched plants is not all 
gain. Itis more difficult to properly water the benches so 
that the soil throughout is as moist as it should be, and 
this objection is made by growers who prefer ground 
beds. When the soil in the benches is watered by sub- 
irrigation, it is an ideal system, especially during the dull 
winter months, The advantages of benches provided 
with sub-irrigation. lines should be considered, and it is 
possible that this method will be more generally used 
when it is better understood. 
For the spring crop, ground beds are entirely satis- 
factory. It is a simple matter to maintain proper soil 
moisture conditions in them, and the plants are easily 
