The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1906-10-18
TOMATO GROWING.


/ Mr.. ]. P. Stewart has received
the following from Mr.. Frank
Campbell Of Humboldt, Tenn,
which Is Of interest to prospective
truck-growerss
Tomato raising around Hum
boldt, Tenn, has become one oil
our best money making industries.
| Almost every farm within a radius
of FIVE miles of this shipping point
has from one to ten acres OF toma-
toes grown and If they have the
proper care and attention from the
starting Of the seed beds to the end
of the-marketing they usually make
from one TO three hundred dollars
lper acre net. Some acres make
more than others even with the
very same attention because the soil
In some places is better adapted to
the growth and. maturity of the
crop.
In the first place we want a
strong, vigorous plant to start with
and to get that strong plant we
must have a we'll prepared seed bed
and SOW seed from a reliable seed
house. The beds are made either
slanting to the south or with a
double slant to the east and west.
either way is very good. We use
Irregular hot-bed sash and ft them
on the bed very closely so as to
leave no cracks for the air to rush
in and kill the plants. The beds
are heated. either by putting stable
manure in the bottom from six to
ten inches deep or by having fur
mace near one end Of the bed and
have pipes Of tiling to run under
the bed from the furnace. The
heat will pass through these pipes
and warm the dirt in a few days.
The dirt should be from six to
eight inches deep and good, rich
soil with a plenty of humus IN 1t to
prevent 1t from running together
when it Is sprinkled. The bed
must be made several days before
sowing the seed so the dirt will be
warm enough to keep them from
rotting.
To get a strong plant the seed
should not be sown very thick and
after they come up they should
have some air each day by slipping
the sash down from the top. but
the cold wind must not blow direct
| ly on the plants as it will chill them
and check the growth.
The temperature should be kept
something near summer heat espec-
tally while the plants are young and
tender. A plenty of straw packed
on and around the bed will hold
the heat all night. This should
not be removed until the sun is up
in the morning. After the plants
have put out the third or fourth
leaf they should be pulled up and
transplanted to a similar bed two
or four inches apart each way.
This bed can be covered by using
new domestic stretched very tightly
over it instead of the glass, al
though the glass Is some better. II
they are put two inches apart at
6rst they will have to be transplant
ed again four inches apart. By
putting them two inches the first
time 1t takes a great deal less bed
room to hold them and saves the
labor of wrapping SO much bed
when the weather is cold. They
can stay OH this bed until they be-
gin to get crowded, then they must
be put four inches to give them
room to make good strong stalk.
Some growers think 1t makes
stronger plant to transplant twice
while others are just as successful
who transplant once. As soon as
all danger of frost is over the plants
must be rushed to the field and set
out in good soil that has been we'll
prepared. But before going to the
field the plants should be toughened
by giving them a plenty of air and
the last few days before setting the
beds should be left entirely uncov-
cred day and night. The day be-