Special Needs-'^^^ 139 



except that the hills for the winter sorts must be 

 at least eight feet apart and they are often put 

 twelve. 



Tomato: — For the earliest crop, tomatoes are 

 started about March ist. They should be twice 

 transplanted, and for best results the second trans- 

 planting should be put into pots — or into the frames, 

 setting six to eight inches each way. They are not 

 set out until danger of frost is over, and the ground 

 should not be too rich; old manure used in the hill, 

 with a dressing of nitrate at setting out, or a few 

 days after, will give them a good start. According 

 to variety, they are set three to five feet apart — four 

 feet, where staking or trellising is given, as it 

 should always be in garden culture, will be as 

 much as the largest-growing plants require. It will 

 pay well, both for quality and quantity of fruit, to 

 keep most of the suckers cut or rubbed off. The 

 ripening of a few fruits may be hastened by tying 

 paper bags over the bunches, or by picking and 

 ripening on a board in the hot sun. For ripening 

 fruit after frost see Chapter XIV. 



A sharp watch should be kept for the large green 

 tomato-worm, which is almost exactly the color of 

 the foliage. His presence may first be noticed by 

 fruit and leaves eaten. Hand-picking is the best 

 remedy. Protection must be made against the cut- 

 worm in localities where he works. 



