Tomato 



393 



In most parts of the United States, the tomato is 

 grown with the greatest ease. In fact, the fruit is grown 

 more abundantly in this country, and to a greater degree 

 of perfection, than elsewhere in the world. The plants 

 are usually started from four to eight weeks before they 



Fig. 124. Tomato seedlings. Two-thirds natural size. 



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 

 present 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 are 

 used. In these boxes the plants are displayed in the 

 grocery stores for sale to amateur planters. In flats of 

 various sizes, the plants can be readily handled from the 

 frame to the field. In commercial business, the 3^oung 

 tomato plants are now rarely transplanted. They are 

 thinned in the flats so that they stand two or three 

 inches apart each way, or farther than this if the plants 

 are started very early. Sometimes the plants are sheared 

 if they become too tall and "leggy," although this is not 

 the best practice. In the Middle and Southern states, 



