6o 



PLANT i'KOi'AGATlON 



Sand to the depth of one-half to one inch on the bench 

 aids greatly in the retention of moisture as well as in 

 placing the pots level. 



Repotting dangers. — It seems to be a rule that plants grown in 

 the open ground attain larger size than those grown in flower pots ; 

 also that those grown in large pots grow larger than those grown in 

 smaller and smaller ones. Experiments have proved that the greater 

 the number of repottings the smaller the plants so treated. 



88. Tomato propagation. — In Maryland, 83 varieties of tomatoes 

 were grown experimentally, some in the usual way of transplanting, 

 some from seed sown direct in i-inch pots imbedded in earth and 

 the seedlings thinned. There was loss by damping-off among the 



FIG. 



REMOVING PLANT FROM POT 



placing the hcnds; b, rapping pot on b2n:;li to loosen ball of earth; 

 c, plant separated from pot. 



transplanted plants, but none among the pot grown. These latter 

 suffered no loss or check when mo\ ed to the field ; the transplanted 

 plants were slower to start and to bloom. With 73 of the 83 va- 

 rieties the pot plants yielded more than the others, and ainong the 

 10 greatest yielders nine were potted. The average yield on an 

 acre basis was 12^ tons, against L0-)4, an increase more than enough 

 to pay for the labor. The potted plants, as a whole, produced about 

 twice as much fruit prior to August 1-5 as the others — ,i!i bushels, 

 against 30. [This is of special interest from a market standpoint, 

 because of higher prices early in the season.] Each of the 20 best 

 earlv producers gave greatest 3'ield from the potted plants. 



89. Transplanting lettuce and other plants experimentally in Wis- 

 consin in the greenhouse seems to warrant the general conclusion 

 that transplanting does not promote earliness nor increased yield. 

 Once transplanting, as of cabbage plants, from seed bed to field, or 

 "pricking off" as commonly practiced in the greenhouse, is neces- 

 sary to economize room, but repeated transplanting of vegetable 

 plants is not advisable. 



