The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-08-14

But he never intended to raise them
outdoors in that way. He raises them
II dollhouse with authorization, and
lie gets fifteen cents more a pound for
hem than any other tomatoes on the
Boston market. DIR. Fisher, as his
title implies, received his NJ. D., aad
some years ago started out TO practise
medicine, but he soon wearied OF his
profession, and found himself ont OF
sympathy with many of it's teachings
md doctrines. Always interested in
he care and culture of growing things,
ais scientifically trained mind found
IN the realm OF plant life a field for re-
search which he saw might be rs ex-
laustive and valuable in its way as
any of the problems of the human
body.
-Four years ago he built on his place,
.wo miles from Fitchburg, dollhouse
los feet long and 49, feet wide. He
das experimental and evolved his
theories of fertilizer, and most of all
oeen happy in the work under his
hand.
He says that he adopted his present
method of raising tomatoes partly by
accident and partly by working ont
his theories to their logical couclu-
sion. For four years now he has been
sending them to market raised by this
method, which is, to say the least,
evolutionary.
The aim of all irrigation is to give
Inc plants water when they need it.
1t is the ability to do this that makes
lhe Arkansas valley apples raised in
hanzanola and other points, for in
stance, 50 perfect in flavor and APP
pearance. They are given water when
taey need it. In this country the ap-
pie may become "set" on the tree and
begin to develop, and the orchardist
lave to wait for days for Il shower to
give his thirsty trees a very necessary
brink. There the orehardist turns on
his water when the apple is "sct" and
;he result is fair, perfect apple. This,
hen, is the great advantage of raising
,ruit commercially with irrigation. In
:he irrigating of trees n furrow is
turned alongside the tree about under
the ends of the branches. Down this
The water is run for varying lengths
ii time and then turned off, The
water sinks into the roots, which drink
it mp into the tree.
Tomatoes raised by the acre in that
country in the open are irrigated in the
same way, but with more frequency.
Of course, than apples. The tomato
IS n vegetable that requires o great
deal of moisture, large per cent. OF
It's substance being water Dr.. Fisher
came to the conclusion that the tomato
not only needs very frequent drink,
but needs perpetual one. So he
went to work on that plan.
About November he plants in a
three-inch pot a single tomato seed.
Immediately the pot is set in n pan
having water in it. The soil is n pre-
pared one and is enriched with q
chemical fertilizer which the doctor
has perfected and has made for him
according to his own formula. To
digrcss for q moment, he used to use
different fertilizers for different plants,
but now he uses the same fertili-
Ter for all plants and all soils.
The soil he disrcgards TO some ex-
tent, holding that the food should
be such as goes into the making of
the plant and not into the soil itself.
The usual method of raising tomato
plants from the seed IS to SOW the seed
IN cold frame or forcing box. and.
when the plants are big enough. to
prick them out, ~ which is simply
separating and setting them by them
selves. The Doctors method obyiales
this tedious and delicate operation.
Each plant has its own home i'm the
three-inch pot, and there it stays and
grows till it is about five weeks old.
Then it is set i'm the final soil. where
1t Is 10 grow To- maturity and fruit,
without transplantiug or handling.
At all times 1t is still standing in its
pan of water and drinking constantly.
The receptacle where it finally
grows rs X bottomlcss iron box about
six inches deep and with about four
inches Of soil i'm It, Throc plants arc
set I'm each box or frame. Tho end
plants are set twcuty.ouo inches from
tho centre plant This frame is fhou
set into % shallow tray of water and.
having no bottom, tho soil and tine
iibrous roots, which soon penetrate
through to- tho bottom, suck up the
water from the plant constantly
From then till the fruit is gathered
aud the plant is through blossomiug
the water is never allowed Go remain
out of the pans. I'm oihcr words not
q drop of water ever goes to the sur
face of the soil which aupports the
tomatoes, but 10 is constantly being
supplied rs the plant itself demands
&c, TO the roots.
The luxuriousuess Of tho plants and
the Health Of their foliage is tesfi-
mouy TO the success OF tho method.
While DR. Fisher raises primarily for
the interest he takes in the PROPOSE
ton from n scientific standpoint. Inc
finds that his los feet of glass brings
him in q handsome little sum every
YeFs an account Of Lhe grcat excel
Once ofthe'tturt fhc tematg~itssH
gB0suaIy aheFvy aud eaolf1, And of
~ se.y 5sast ifplAadtrue toaftlto color.
.Fh6 SnIiety ussd Is. titC best % al, 70
.pnd -tbe feuat indeed look like IT'S
,,tieraniams and carnations raised
-.