68 VEGETABLE GROWING PROJECTS 



into the matter. One of the best is to plant dwarf peas as early 

 as possible in the spring, and then to set tomato plants three or four 

 feet apart a few inches from the rows of peas. The peas, of course, 

 will be well advanced before the tomato plants are set out and 

 in a few weeks the pea vines may be pulled and the ground devoted 

 exclusively to the tomatoes. 



1. What is meant by companion cropping f 



W-VG:475. L: 260, 262. 



2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of companion crop- 



ping? 

 W-VG:475. L:262. C : 5-6. 



3. Describe several combinations including the tomato. 



W-VG : 483, 484, 486. L : 261-262. 



4. Will it pay you to practice companion cropping? Why? 



17. Cultivation. — A fine, loose surface mulch of soil should 

 be maintained in the tomato plantation as long as it is possible to 

 use a cultivator between the rows. The importance of tillage has 

 been shown in connection with plowing (W : 64) . Not only do 

 weeds grow when the cultivators are not used, but the soil soon 

 becomes compact, soil moisture escapes at a rapid rate, and both 

 the physical and chemical properties of the soil soon become un- 

 favorable for plant growth. 



Numerous types of cultivators may be employed, but the ones 

 with a relatively large number of small teeth are generally better 

 than those with a few large shovels. Tomatoes are usually cul- 

 tivated with horses, but the soil of the home garden may be stirred 

 very rapidly with a good wheel hoe. 



Very little hand hoeing will be required if the wheel or horse- 

 cultivators are used frequently and skillfully. 



