The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-03-01

| sess these qualities in a higher de-
gree than the Globe and Stone.
which are so highly esteemed as
shipping varieties.
| Starting the Plants.
| In the southern part of the State
seed-beds are planted in October
and November and in the central
and northern parts in January and
February. a seed-bed by 6 feet
should be provided. The bed should
be covered about two inches deep
with well rotted stable manure. to
which is added one ounce of Acid
phosphate and to ounces Of kahn
it. This should be thoroughly mix
ed with the soil while breaking and
pulverizing it. The seed bed should
not be quite as rich as the field to
which the plants are transplanted
else they will be checked in their
later growth, and, therefore, will
not be SO fruitful. 1t is important
in tomato growing to have the plant
unchecked from t're time il comes
up till it begins putting on fruit
Cloth covered frames are satisfac-
tory for protecting the young plants
in Florida and are cheaper than tbo
not beds and Sash-covered frames
used further north. These NAV be
built after the ground has been pre-
pared. The back or north side of
the frame should be about "A inches
high, the south side about II inches.
six feet is a good width and the
lehgth should be as great as neces-
sary to produce about double the
acreage to be planted The cover
is made of unbleached sheeting
stitched together so as to form q
sheet seven feet wide and as long
as the bed. One side Of this is nail
ed to the back Of the frame and the
other side is nailed between two k
z inch strips of wood, thus making
a square roller on which the curtain
cred. Narrow strips for support
ing the cover are placed across the
frames two or three feet apart.
Sow in rows across the bed six in
ches apart-about s to 10 seed to
the inch, cover IA to 1-2 inch deep
and pack the earth we'll over them
Keep the soil moist by sprinkling,
II necessary and rake the ground
lightly between the rows the next
day after sprinking and after each
rain. This checks evaporation and
helps to prevent damping off of the
seedlings. Plants should be thin
ned to 1-2 inch apart quite early to
avoid crowding and becoming leg
gy." One-half ounce of good seed
Will produce enough plants to set
the one-tenth acre plot. 1t will
take from 45 to 60 days for the
plants to grow large enough to
transplant.
Plants for very early planting
may be started in shallow boxes and
picked out" when they have four
leaves, into cold frames to 4 inch
es each way and grown till large
enough for transplanting.
Transplanting.
II possible select a time for trans
planting when the soil is moist, but
not wet and the air still and warm.
Just before setting the plants the
ground should he thrown into broad
flat ridges four to six feet apart, va
rying in height from almost leve! in
sandy soil to several inches higher
in stiffer, moisier land. Plants are
put in condition for tranSplanting
allowing a scant supply of water for
few days before, with the fullest
exposure Of air and sun, then a
thorough wetting few hours be-
fore they are taken mp. Take up
the plants for the days planting in
the early morning, being careful to
secure as much Of the root as posi-
ple, pack them tlShtly in box,
and keep them in a shady place
with canvass or burlap thrown over
them. Holes to receive the plants
may be made with a dibble or plant
ing trowcl, either of which may be
made of wood. The plants are plac-
ed in these holes an inch or two
deeper than they stood in the bed,
the earth is packed closely about
the roots,-cspccially at the bottom
slight saucer shaped depression is
left about the plant and into this Il
half dipperful uf water is poured
and the depression filled with dry
carth,--lcft loose to prevent caking
and evaporation