Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-18
THE TOMATO CROP.
Seriously Discussed by Large Meeting
of Kent County, Nd, Farmers.

/
of Kent County, Nd, Farmers.
CHEsTERTowN, Nd, Jan. 10.-Be-
cause of the constantly increasing i'm
portance of the tomato crop to the Kent
county farmer it is to-day being more
generally discussed in its phases of cul-
ture, handling and profit than any other
crop grown in the country. The Ches-
ter Alliance at its last meeting appointed
committee to report relative to the
comparative profits OF corn, wheat and
tomatoes. The committee make public
the following interesting reports OF per-
sonal experiences
Mr.. Dodson stated that in growing
| tomatoes he had first broadcasted
manure, as for corn, afterward using
about 1877 pounds of fertilizer per acre,
sowing one handful to three hills. Did
not think the cost of growing tomatoes
| exceeded that for corn, except in setting
| out plants and getting good stand.
Average returns from crop, $49 per acre.
Mr.. Vansant planted tomatoes on new
ground. Weather very dry; difficult to
get stand. Average yield from four
acres $50 per acre.
Mr.. E. Morris used new ground.
Sowed some fertilizer in each hill. Sea-
son wet and rather favorable Tomatoes
were worked but little more than corn.
Yield $40 per acre.
Mr.. Stewart used clover sod; no
manure; a little phosphate in the rows;
average $35 per acre. MIR. Stewart
planted too late and advises an early
planting as possible-not later than
May 25th.
MIR. Newcomb: Cut-worm is often
very destructive when sod is used, and
advises against it. He uses manure and
phosphate in the hill. Average return
for three years $50 per acre. Advises
early planting and the use of spade in
setting out plants.
Mr.. Walter Morris averaged $50 per
acre from three years planting. says
baskets should be looked after sharply.
as their loss constitutes d large item OF
! expense.
Mr.. Ford set IL acres of tomatoes ip
clover sod or stubble ground. Planted
about June 10th, and averaged SGT per
, acre. Had previous year 21 acres in
, stalk ground, and did not experiences
any trouble with cut-worm.
Mr.. John Bell: His average returns
from tomatoes for several years were
1893 per acre. He uses manure, as on
corn land, and sows fertilizer in the
hills; has planted both in sod and stalk
ground, and notices no difference.
5 Mr.. Parks of Parks & Carroll, is res
S ported to have grown IL tons of toma-
8 toes per acre. This at So per ton would
bring $72 per acre, but he had to haul
81 miles to cannery.
Thus it will be seen nine growers
n averaged $40.40 per acre.
After discussion at the last meeting
!, regarding the proportion of expenses
t, and returns to landlord and tenant, il
Y was given as the sense of the meeting
|; that the landlord should furnish half the
u fertilizer and half the plants used, ant
Z that an equitable division of the return
r: would give the landlord one-third, thu
ri tenant two. thirds, thus compensatinf
a; the latter for his additional outlay il
setting out the plants, for the extra cos
b; of working, aud for picking the pro
duct and hauling to market 1t wa
y also pointed out that the tenant does no
Y. in growing tomatoes make any fodder
as in crop of corn, nor straw for bed
Id ding and manure as in growing wheat
y, and while there is an apparent differ
ence, the tenant derives no real adyan
tage in growing tomatoes other THAI
that shared by the landlord.