THE 174 



GARDEN YARD 



eight weeks before transplanting to the garden, 

 although they may be transplanted once or 

 twice in the seed-bed to secure free and stocky 

 growth. For the small home garden the plants 

 are usually handled in pots, but for commercial 

 purposes they are planted in small flats not 

 more than 12 inches square, holding about two 

 inches of soil. The earlier they are started the 

 better, because they are less likely to suffer from 

 fruit-rot and frost if they fruit early. 



In the North, you must have vigorous, stocky 

 plants, well in advance of the season, and a warm 

 quick soil, to get a good crop of tomatoes. 

 Too much fresh stable manure will cause rank 

 vine growth and delay fruiting, so that the soil 

 should be fertilized a season in advance and the 

 manure thoroughly rotted. At the time of 

 planting it is well to apply a light dressing of 

 nitrate of soda, as this gives better results than 

 twice the application when given later at in- 

 tervals up to August. 



At the South, tomatoes are grown in frames 

 covered with unbleached sheeting by night and 

 during cold snaps, but in the day this covering 

 is rolled up and the plants are hardened by 

 the air. Although tender to frost, the tomato 

 vine is a fairly hardy plant, and will stand 

 earlier field planting than is sometimes given it, 



