453 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
production of first early fruits, each plant should bear 
two or more clusters of flowers when set in the field. 
650. Starting late plants. — In many of the southern 
districts where tomatoes are grown for the cannery, the 
seed is sown in the open, and the plants set in the field 
when they are 6 to 8 inches tall. In northern sections 
plants are generally started under glass or protecting 
muslin or canvas and set in the field with or without 
previous transplanting. There is an increasing tendency, 
however, to transplant at least once before taking to the 
open ground. Both practical experience and experiments 
indicate that relatively early sowing with at least one 
transplanting increases yields. The truckers and mar- 
ket gardeners of the North often exercise almost as much 
care in starting the late plants as the early ones. 
651. Soil preparation. — Land manured heavily for a 
cultivated crop the preceding year should be in prime 
condition for tomatoes. Heavy clover sods are regarded 
excellent, especially for the late crop. Green manures 
are employed extensively in some sections preparatory 
to planting tomatoes. Whatever the previous treatment 
of the land has been, early spring plowing and frequent 
and thorough subsequent harrowing are essential to the 
best results. 
652. Fertilizing. — As soils and methods of soil treat- 
ment vary greatly on different farms where tomatoes 
are grown, it is useless to attempt much more than a 
general discussion of this subject. There is an anti- 
quated idea that the tomato should not be planted in rich 
soils. This wrong conception of the needs of the plant 
has perhaps had its origin in improper methods rather 
than in actual tests of liberal and intelligent feeding. 
Every observing grower is familiar with the injurious 
effects of large amounts of soluble nitrogen, applied late 
in the season, or of fresh stable manures used shortly 
before planting. Such treatments, especially if there is 
