The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-01-23

factor, and it should be the aim to
select not ouly prolific varieties,
but at the same time those which
produce large, smooth, solid. red
fruits that ripen evenly. Condi-
tions are such as make it imprac-
ticable for the Gamer to make any
close distinction at the factory be-
tween good and poor varieties,
notwithstanding such differences
may make considerable variation
in the net output Of the canned
product. Inasmuch as improve
ment i'll the quality of the fruit re-
suits in better canned product
and consequently in high price
for both the raw and manufactured
article, and, further, IN considera-
ton of the necessity of putting on
the market a product Of standard
superiority so as the better to
meet competition from other can
ming sections, particularly those
new sections that are making such
rapid strides in this industry, it
devolves upon the grower in
spirit of self.protection to produce
only fruit of the highest quality.
The extensive type of soil local
ly called medium loan" or red
clay bottom, and which has been
mapped By the bureau Of soils of
the national Department of Agri-
culture as sassafras sandy loans, is
unquestionably the best tomato
soil of Eastern Shore, Maryland.
This soil consists of a brown or
grayish brown, medium heavy
sandy loan, underlain at depth
of from nine to fourteen inches by
reddish yellow loan, which gen
orally passes into a much coarser
material at about thirty inches.
This rather open substratum in
sures excellent undertakings to
the soil. Good crops also can be
grown on the heavier sassafras
loan al fair crops on the still
heavier stiffred clay land or sassa-
fras silt loan. White oak land,
which III normal seasons makes
only moderate yields of mother
inferior tomato, should be used
for grass and wheat, to which
crops it is very much better adapt
ed, The yields vary from three
to twelve tons all acre, according
to the character Of the soils and
soil management.
Land intended for tomatoes is
broken generally to a depth of
four to- SIX inches and it brought
into good condition by repeatedly
narrowing. Fall ploughing should
be more generally prectised, as in
this way the soil can be put in the
best possible condition for stirring
up and maintaining a favorable
supply of moisture. All land
supporting vegetable growth and
land that may have assumed
compact, unfavorable structure
through previous cultivation to
crops not requiring intertillage.
like wheat and grass, should be
broken in the fall so as to convert
the organic matter into active
humus and subject clods to the
refining of winter freezes. The
proftableness of such treatment
has been demonstrated on the bet
ter tomato soils by some of the
most successful farmers.
After thorough preparation the
land is laid off in checks so as to
place the hills something like four
feet apart each way. The plants
grown on a rick bed, preferably in
sheltered situation, are set out,
generally by hand, some time be-
tween the first of May and the
middle of June. Cultivation be-
gins almost Immediately and con-
tinues at the rate of about once
week until the plants have attain
ed nearly three-fourths full growth.
The crop is titled very much the
same way as corn, the first plough
ing being deep and each subse-
quent cultivation shallower, so as