Evening journal., 1908-04-27
TALK OF
TOMATO GROWING
Best Methods Of Culture Ex-
planned at Sussex Grange
Meeting
Milford Chronicle.

Milford Chronicle.
"Growing Tomatoes" the topic Of
the day at the Grange. April eigh-
teenth. was taken up by the leader, r.
c. Begley. This is a very important
crop TO Delaware farmers as nearly all
OF them grow tomatoes
II Is Mr.. Begley's opinion that this
crop should average a net profit of
$50 per acre. II is important to have
good seed. He has tried several varie-
ties and prefers Burpee's Matchless.
They hang on the vines long time
without rottinE and are more free from
blight than many sorts. He plants
the seed IN rich ground, using chicken
manure TO fertilize the seed bed. He
marks out a furrow five inches wide
with a hoe. scatters the seed thin and
covers one-half inch with earth. When
the seed begins 10 come uD he loosens
the ground with a hand rake. The
plants are stronger than when the seed
is sowed thick. The plants are liable
to an early attack Of the flea bug and
for this he sprays with bordeaux mix
ture and arsenate of lead. practically
keeping them covered with the bor-
deaux and spraying thoroughly about
two hours before the plants are set in
the field With Mr.. Begley early set
plants do best. Those put out the last
of May and first Of June give better
returns than later set plants. For the
tomato field he prefers clover sod,
covered with stable manure. plowed
and kept well worked ND a month be-
fore needed. For phosphate he uses
500 pounds OF fish. 500 pounds Of rock,
AID 400 pounds Of Muriate Of Potash,
applying 500 pounds per acre. The
field should be cultivated from the time
the plants are set until they are too
large. Shallow cultivation when the
weather is dry. He used five loads OF
manure last year to the acre and got
a fraction over nine tons Of tomatoes
per acre.
J. J. Rosa likes best clover sod ma
nured and plowed in the FAN. In the
spring manure and plow again and
put on 500 pounds of fertilizer.
Charles SacKett usually sets his
plants-late on the ground where he cuts
the ground and sets the plants early
nc Etio the hIHI AltlIs
John Short grew eleven and one-half
tons per acre In 1907. He used clover
and timothy sod. manured in the Call
and plowed early In .he spring keep
ing It well worked up until time to set
plants. Marked the ground both ways
with a three foot ten-inch marker.
Sowed phosphate. 400 pounds per acre,
down the row and covered with a ctil-
tivator. He grew the Success and liked
them.
S. Armour plants seed IN we'll ma
nured ground. in narrow row. so as TO
get stoclSy plants. A. G. Howe in
auired the best way to apply coarse
manure and was advised to use It
broadcast and nlow under and use
phosphate in tho row.
Charles Barker thinks Mr.. Begley's
system a good one and his method Of
keeping young plants covered with
bordeaux excellent. Mr. Barker is try
ing this year Delaware Beauty and
S1ccess. It has always been a ques-
ton with Mr.. Baker about fertilizing
In the hill When he does It, he re-
grets II. and when he does not, he
wishes he had.
Mr.. SaclSett has tried broadcasting
and fertllizins in the hill When broad
casting only. thought the fruit ripened
slowly His plan is TO broadcast 400
pounds Of phosphate and put 800
pounds in the hill per acre.
II. r. Lenex suggested that phos-
phate be put on top and then cultivated
in when the plants were cultivated.