1418 The Vegetable Industry in New York State 



system one can maintain the quicker the plant will start. Medium 

 sized plants are preferable to large ones because more of their 

 root system can be maintained. It is not good policy to set plants 

 when the ground is wet as one can not then help packing the 

 ground around a young plant. The sun will dry out this packed 

 earth leaving the plant in the hard, dry soil. There should be a 

 dry mulch of soil maintained around a newly set plant. 



Fig. 435. — Plant Setter in Action 



Fig. 434. — Master's 

 Plant Setter 



Of all setting tools I prefer the " Masters Plant Setter." This 

 little machine places the plant roots down through the dry soil 

 on the surface into that which is moist underneath. It also seals 

 the plant roots to the ground with water, but does not destroy the 

 surface mulch or pack the ground. 



These machines are very inexpensive, costing about four dol- 

 lars. A man can set one acre per day watering each plant, and 

 there is no stooping, dusty work about it. They are adapted to 

 both large and small areas, as three men, each having a machine, 

 can set more plants than a team outfit, and no skips. Every 

 plant will live, making a perfect stand. 



