The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-10
Tomnto Growing in Florida.

A great many different schemes have
been invented to do away with the peg
and-bucket" method Of transplanting, but
cautious tomato growers still adhere to
the primitive. method, says Prof. Rolf, in
Farmer and Fruit Grower. The nearest
approach to this method is a machine
drawn by a team, and the planting per-
formed by two boys. A certain quantity
of water is left at the place where the
plant is to be set; after the plant has
been set the machine covers the roots and
also the moistened places, and at the
same time presses the soil firmly into
place.
When they are being removed from the
bed a sharp spade should be set down
deeply between the rows, and then again
in the row. this will secure a square of
the plant bed soil. Put the plant in the
setting out tray, and move to the tleld.
This tray may be made from shallow
soap box with one end Knocked out, and
a hoop handle nailed to 1t or anger holes
put into the sides. When the plants have
been cut properly such tray, Ax17x4
inches, will hold at least twenty-five, and
simetimes as high as seventy-five plants.
plant can be slipped from the open end
to the place where II is to be set, and so
avoid moving much of the soil from
the roots. Some time can be saved by
one person passing along the row and
dropping the plants while another fol-
lows to set them.
Some tomato growers nave uSeu a
method that seems to be quite unique, but,
Judging from the number who have aban-
doned 1t, one would judge that 1t does not
meet with great success. A fuTrow is
checks; a second furrow Is thrown onto
the roots; on the return the pillow is run
down the other side, 50 as to set the
plants upright. This method Is mentioned
here to advise the readers on that point.
Those who have not tried this method
and wish TO adopt 1t, should consider II
hof, npl an
ton of the crop. There are conditions and
localities where 1t might be used to ad-
vantage.
well when set two by two feet.A very com
mon distance is four by four feet. 1t is
we'll to lay the field off with marker.
This may be made by using two-inch
planks about eight inches wide; cut them
into four-foot lengths, fasten four Of these
in the fashion of four-runnered sleigh,
making the distance between the runners
inst what YOU wish that between the rows
10 be After the field has been laid off
one way, it may be crossed, ana the plants
set out in the checks. If 1t Is desirable
to have the plants closer in the row, the
distance between the runners may be
changed. A drag, which may be changed
from one side to the. other, can be at
tached to mark guide line for the next
set of marks. 1t will usually require a
team to drag one Of these markers.
wagon tongue or pole is usually attached
TO il to make the marker manageable.
1t IS well worth the while to have the
rows as straight as they can be made.
and to make the cross rows equally
straight. 1t is possible to put the field
into such a condition that hoe will not
be needed, and this should be kept con-
stantly in mind. Under the proper con-
ditions one man and a team should be able
to cultivate six or eight acres in day.
BY using a two-horse corn cultiyator,
and exchanging the inner "shovels' for
some more shallow running plows, and
using the TENDERS" the crop would be
cultivated as easily as a crop of corn. The
common practice Of using one horse and
then leaving a considerable space around
the plant to be hoed is a waste of time
and energy. The great trouble with all
one-horse blows and cultivators is that
they have no fender" This is simply
niece Of sheet-iron fastened to the cultiva-
tor so as to keep the soil from being
thrown on or against the plants, but al
lowing the finer particles of soil to settle
I'm around each plant. When the cultlva-
tor passes on each side, the plant is press
ed from both sides at once and so is not
knocked over. Level cultivation will be
found the better in our sandy loan. When
blowing near the plants care should be
taken not to injure the roots; this needs
special care after the plants begin to bios
som.