460 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



of probably four tons, would contain 57 pounds of nitro- 

 gen, 16 of phosphoric acid and 94 of potash. 



Because the requirements of soils vary widely, Corbett 

 (Farmers' Bulletin, 220, U. S. D. A., p. Ii) recommends 

 the following simple fertilizer test : 



Plot I. Nitrate of soda, ^ pound to 10 plants. Plot 

 2. Muriate of potash, ^ pound to 10 plants. Plot 3. 

 Phosphate, 2 pounds to 10 plants. Plot 4. Nitrate of 

 soda, Yi pound; muriate of potash, J^ pound to 10 

 plants. Plot 5. Phosphate, 2 pounds; muriate of pot- 

 ash, Yz pound to 10 plants. Plot 6. Nitrate of soda, 

 Yi pound; phosphate, 2 pounds to 10 plants. Plot 7. 

 Nitrate of soda, ^2 pound ; phosphate, 2 pounds ; muriate 

 of potash, Y^ pound to 10 plants. Plot 8. Barnyard 

 manure, i shovelful to the plant. Plot 9. Unfertilized. 

 A careful record should be kept of the fruits from each 

 plot. 



On thin soils rotten manure is often used. It in- 

 creases the size and the yield of the fruit. It is fre- 

 quently applied in hills or furrows. 



The most successful growers of early tomatoes use 

 fertilizers carrying about 4 per cent nitrogen and 8 to 

 12 per cent each of the mineral elements. Amounts 

 vary from 500 to 1,000 pounds an acre. In good soils the 

 percentage of nitrogen may be reduced to 2 per cent. 

 A smaller proportion of nitrogen is generally an ad- 

 vantage for the late crop. 



653. Planting. — Tomato plants should be set in the 

 open ground with as little check in growth as possible. 

 If properly grown and hardened, there should be practi- 

 cally no wilting or checking of growth when the transfer 

 is made. Nothing is gained by exposing the plants to 

 cool, frosty nights, for under such conditions they make 

 very little growth, and there is a great risk of serious 

 loss from hard frosts. The plants should be hardened 

 as much as possible before setting in the open ground. 



