TOMATO 279 
finally into the permanent beds. The most extensive com- 
mercial growers seldom make more than three shifts, 
including the final transplanting into the beds. 
An extensive grower at Cleveland, Ohio, sows in beds 
and then sets two plants in a quart berry basket; these 
are ultimately set, basket and all, in the ground beds. It 
is claimed that the results are just as satisfactory as when 
pots are employed and that the expense in starting the 
plants is less. 
The utmost care should be exercised in the growing of 
strong, robust plants. They should not be permitted to 
become pot-bound at any time. Careful watering and 
ventilation are of urgent importance. 
Planting distances.—There is the greatest diversity of 
practice in the planting distances adopted by different. 
growers. Some tests have been made at the experiment 
stations, but the results with different varieties under 
variable conditions are so contradictory that conclusions 
of real value cannot be drawn. 
Close planting undoubtedly results in smaller tomatoes 
and smaller yields to the plant, but not necessarily smaller 
yields per square foot. The tendency of commercial 
growers, however, is to become more liberal in the amount 
of space between rows, which is a decided advantage in 
caring for the plants and in harvesting the fruit. For- 
merly the most common practice was to plant 16 by 18, 
18 by 18, 20 by 24 or 24 by 24 inches. Now the more 
frequent plan is to allow 2% to 4 feet between rows and 
to set the plants a foot to 18 inches apart in the row. 
For example, one of the most successful growers at Iron- 
dequoit has only seven rows in a house 80 feet wide, and 
the plants are 18 inches apart in the rows. A prominent 
Cleveland grower allows 3 feet between rows, and berry 
baskets, each containing two plants, are set at intervals 
of 27 inches. A well-known grower in Western Pennsyl- 
vania plants 8 feet by 15 inches; an Erie, Pa., grower 3 feet 
by 12 inches, a Massachusetts grower 3 feet by 15 inches. 
