The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-08-02
PLANNING FOR TOMATO CROP.
(By ID. w. HulI.)

Although we are not tomato spec
ialists, yet we have grown tomatoes
for market to a greater or less ex-
tent for years. Our soil is not of
that warm, sandy nature so import
ant for growing early tomatoes, so
we Just grow main crop varieties,
preferring Matchless and Imperial.
The seed is sown in fats during
March in our greenhouses. Before
the plants crowd they are set in 9TH
er flats, perhaps putting about 20
to the square foot. When they get
too large for this, we transplant
them to the benches from which cell
cry or cabbage plants have been
taken. At this time it is a good
plan to put them in paper pots,
which are set in the benches. They
are placed about 4 or inches apart
| at this time.
Our weather will hardly let us set
the plants in the field much before
June l. Rows are marked out 5
feet apart, or by stretching binder
twine lines. Then holes are dug
with hoe. The holes are made
hong instead of deep, so the plants
are laid down lengthwise of the
rows, so the cultivator will not tear
the roots out. The reason we lay
them down this way is that the root
may not be down too deeply in the
harder, colder, and perhaps, poorer
soil, yet have most of the stalk COW
cred with soil.
If the stalk is covered so only
about one-third of top is out, wind
cannot whip the plants around and
break them when first set. Then
roots will start out along the COW
cred stalk. One of the greatest ad-
vantages is getting rid of most of
the leaves, so evaporation is check
| ed just that much. 1t is important
that a tomato plant be kept from
evaporating it's juice when Just set
and before roots are established well
enough to furnish the normal
amount of moisture to the plant
We can readily cut half or more of
the top off any of the cabbage fam
lily, lettuce, beets, celery or trees,
but the centre bud of a tomato plant
is too near the top to do this easily,
so burying serves the same purpose.
These long holes we cover with a
hoe, and press the soil over the roots
with the feet, then put some loose
dirt over last, so as TO act as a
mulch.
|
Because the growth should be
made quickly, so they can have as
long a season of fruiting before frost
as possible, the soil should be we'll
supplied with phosphoric acid and
potash, also fair amount of nitro
gen. This season we plan to fertilize
with about 700 pounds of IA per
cent. dissolved rock, 800 muriate
of Dntaeh and 150 nifrata of coda
to the acre.
Sometimes the plants are tied to a
single stake. This method has the
advantage of holding the fruit off
of the ground. Too much water
would crowd some of the needed afr
out OF the soil. Tomatoes have a
tendency to crack If a good rain fol-
lows drough, perhaps because the
pulp OF the fruit grows too fast
J If the plants are supplied as well
as possible with moisture all the
time the growth will not jump sc
after a rain, but will be rather fast
and uniform all the time.
AS we have excellent success In
marketing, i feel that / might say
} something of profit in regard to oul
| methods. My brother has charge o.
I all this, and has won the confidence
/ of all our customers by being abso
) lutely honest and straightforward
: in all OF his dealings. Our patrons
r know they can trust him as Il
I quantity, quality and uniformity
r also condition of the market anC
} prices They feel that he is thei
5 friend, that he will always hell
5 them every way he can, and neye