The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-20
AGRICULTURAL
T onnatoes.

OnldtOCSs
The tomato is one of the incest, cheap
est and most profitable crops for the
truck farmer to grow. A well managed
tomato crop will perhaps give greater
returns for the amount invested than will
any other of our vegetable crops.
The main thing in tomato growing, as
in early cabbage growing. is to secure
good, strong plants to commence with,
and here is where comes in the greatest
cost of producing the crop. Where the
grower is growing early crops for ship
ment, he can start the plants on hot
bed the same as for early cabbage. The
tomato plant is not so hardy as the cab
bage, so more care should be given to
airing and watering. So soon as the
plants are large enough to handle well,
they should be transplanted from the
hot bed to cold frames. These cold
frames should have some bottom heat,
and this will depend upon the earliness
of the season as to how much heat to
provide for in the cold frames. Where
early crops are to be grown, to get good.
strong plants make the cold frame bed
twelve inches deep of good, fresh stable
manure (see under cabbage), put on at
least six inches of very rich soil. Set the
plants on the cold frame in rows four
inches apart each way. AS the plants
grow keep well cultivated. About once n
week take a long bladed sharp knife, cut
through the soil four inches deep each
way between the plants, this root prunes
the plants, causes them to make dense
mass of roots as we'll as to make strong,
stocly plants
When the weather has become settled
and warm, the plants may be removed
to the open field The reader should
bear in mind that the tomato is a tender
II IL Ia
fold unt danger of frost is past and
the weather becomes warm.
AS to the time for sowing the seed in
hot beds. this depends entirely upon the
section of country. Usually from six 10
tn weeks is long enough for carrying
the plants on the hot beds and cold
frames SO that the seed may be sown
from six to ten weeks before time for set
ting in the open field So with this as a
rule. one can easily determine as to the
best time to SOW. and sowing may be
made in the southern states a early as
January and February. while in the
northern states, March and April would
he fully early enough to make sowings
the time dependng upon the season.
Rich well underdrained clay soils.
bring out the best quality in the tomato
though sandy soils with a clay sub-soil
may produce or ripen the fruit a few
DAYS earlier. The plants will continue to
hear fruits much later in the season
when grown in good clay soils.
Fertilizer.
Fresh barnyard manure should never
be used In growing tomatoes, for such
manure will cause too much vine, besides
the fruits are likely to become il-shaped
and this often causes the black rot in the
fruits If it is necessary to use stable
manure in the preparation of soils for
tomatoes il should be applied a year
ahead and some crop such as cabbage.
grown on the land, which Will leave the
land in fine condition for the tomato
crop. A good top dressing of the compost
Intentional above. broadcast and worked
into the soil 4 few days before setting
the plants will furnish the best of plant
foods for the tomato. Where this is not
to be had. and where commercial fertili-
ger has to be depended upon. use per acre
from 625 TO 1850 pounds of a fertilizer con-
tanning nitrogen 4 per cent, available
phosphoric acid 6 per cent. potash per
cent, which may be obtained from either
of the following mixtures:
No. I. $50 to 800 pounds nitrate Soda
250 to 500 pounds dissolved bone: so to 16O
pounds muriate potash.
No $50 to 700 pounds cotton seed
meal; 175 to 300 pounds acid phosphate
so to 160 pounds sulphate potash.
No. 3, go to 500 pounds dried blood: $50
to 700 pounds steamed pone meal; ~ to 100
pounds muriate potash.
This should be applied to the soil and
well worked in or thoroughly mixed in
the soil by the use Of the harrow few
days before setting the plants
Wood Ashes and Lime.
Many soils would be greatly benefited
by applications OF wood ashes and pure.
finely ground rock lime mixed. All
through the southern states, where are
many sawmills. wood Is used for fuel.