258 



Solanaceous Fruits 



claim that the sulfate of ammonia causes some injury to 

 the tomato and prefer to double the quantity of blood and 

 fish. Whether there is any ground for this claim has 

 never been definitely determined.'^ 



The obtaining of a good crop of tomatoes in the North 

 depends very largely on having vigorous and stocky plants 

 well in advance of the season, and a warm quick soil. The 

 plants should be set in the field as soon as the weather is 

 settled. Thereafter they need no special care except to 

 keep the land well tilled. 



Starting the plants. 



Plants are usually started four to eight weeks before 

 they are transplanted to the field. For the home garden 

 it is well to handle the young tomato plants in pots ; but in 

 commercial operations this is scarcely practicable. The 

 custom is to grow them in small flats not more than ten or 

 twelve inches square and that hold about two inches of- 

 soil. In some cases, even smaller flats or boxes are used. 

 In these boxes the plants are displayed in the stores for 

 sale to amateur planters. In flats of various sizes, the 



thinned in the flats to stand two or three inches either 

 way, or farther than this if the plants are started very 

 early. Sometimes the plants are sheared if they become 



146. Young seedlings of tomato (X nearly 



plants can be readily 

 handled from the 

 frame to the field. In 

 commercial business, 

 the young tomato 

 plants are now rarely 

 transplanted. They are 



