





74 

Tomato Gulf State Market. 
A Favorite in Tennessee. 
TRANSPLANTING 
» Varieties with small vines may be set four feet by four feet 
which will require 2,723 plants per acre. 1,743 plants are re- 
quired if spaced 5 feet by 5 feet. This much room or more 
being required by the large vining sorts such as Norton and 
Marglobe. If checked in squares, plants may be cultivated both 
ways. In transplanting the main points to be regarded are: 
care in taking up the plants to avoid injury to the roots, setting 
out as soon as possible to prevent the air coming in contact 
with the roots, setting out firmly to prevent the hot sun from 
withering and blighting the leaves. Before setting out, harden 
the plants by letting them get quite dry a day or two before, 
but give them abundance of water, a few hours before pulling. 
Setting out is most apt to be successfully done just at evening 
or immediately before or during a rain. About the worst time 
is just after a rain, when the ground being wet it is impossible 
to sufficiently press it about the plants without baking hard. 
Never set a field without the use of water. Under irrigation, 
plants should be set on the edge of the furrow and immediately 
followed by water. i 
If possible irrigate once each day for two or three days 
following. If not under irrigation, single holes are dug, the 
roots inserted, the earth filled in and the water poured on top 
to settle the plant. The new mechanical plant setters used on 
large acreages automatically supply water to the roots. Water 
should be used freely and the wet surface immediately covered 
with dry soil about the plant.’ Set the plants deeply (about 
two-thirds of the stem) and new roots will be thrown out from 
the buried portion. 
WATERING 
The best time to water plants is early in the morning or in 
the evening. Water may be given to the roots at any time, but 
should never be sprinkled over the leaves while they are ex- 
posed to the bright sunshine. If watering a plant has been 
commenced, continue to supply it as it is needed or more injury 
than good will result from what has been given. One copious 
watering is better than many sprinklings. ‘The ground should 
always be stirred before it becomes so very dry as to cake or 
crack. Too much watering or rainfall will result in excessive 
vine growth and light sets of fruit. 
(Continued page 75) 

D. V. Burrell Seed Growers Co., Rocky Ford, Colo. 


