THE 
GARDEN YARD ia 
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 net 
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, 
