Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1912-03-23
TOMATOES FOR THE CANNERY
Scientific Review Of The Whole
Subject Bv an ExDert

permitted Dy the courtesy OF PrOf. A.
McCue, of the Delaware College Staff, {
reproduce in full the MSS notes of th
very interesting and valuable address h
delivered before The Farmers Institut
he'd in the Town Hall last Tuesday even
ing.
This will prove a very timely aid to th
nu bere of our farmer readers who pur
pose planting tomatoes this season TO
some of the many canneries in this vicini
ty.
Tha tomato is one of the most impor
tant crops grown upon the Delaware Pen
insula. As grown here for canning pur
poses, it is a crop grown by the genera
farmer rather than the trucker. It is il
reality field and not a garden crop
Grown in large areas it is given extensive
culture and not intensive culture. How
ever, the tomato is crop that responds
quickly to care, and many fields that are
now yielding but three or feur tons pei
acre could easily be made to yield five,
six, or more tons per acre.
The bulk OF the crop is grown for the
canning factory, and is contracted for at q
certain grated sum. Here then, we have
a condition that Limits production in a GER
tain way, because upon the one hand the
grower wishes to produce a large
tonnage per acrr; on the other hand
he wishes TO make as large a profit
as possible. To Iaise the maximum tonu-
sge per acre means raising the cost o. pro-
dnction, aud often cost of production be-
comes too great for the grower to afford
to grow the greatest possible tonnage.
The principle factors in raising maxi
mum crop OF tomatoes fur N n pnr-
poses are, l. Soil, 2 Seed, Plan. rood,
Mois ure, and Variety.
SOIL
The tomato will do well upon a great
variety Of sois, although like other
pIauts, the tomato has it's preferences,
The largest yields are probably obtained
upon well drained warm, sandy loans.
The tomato W II not thrive upon wet soil,
as it is is plan; that liz very inlolerant of
wet feet.
While the tomato plant is dry weat-
her plant, it must be grown upon a soil
that has sufficient water holding capacity
to keep the plant supplied with necessary
mois.ure. On our lighter, sandy sole toe
often the low ield of the tomato crop is
not due to insufficient plant food, but to
Insufficient soil moisture. Ga thistype of
soil the remedy is to incorporate humus
into the soil, This eau, perhaps, best be
accomplished by the use of green cover
crops. Person ally, / would prefer green
crop of crimson clover plowed under at
the proper time, as an ideal condition for
growing tomatoes. Next to this, a GRIM
son clover sod. If June clover sods are
used, there it likely to be more or less
trouble with cut worms.
The condition of the soil at planting
time is an important factor in successful
tomato culture. The ground should be
ploWed deep, disked both ways, and then
narrowed thoroughly. The number of
harrowings necessary depends greatly
upon the type of soil. Just before trans
planting, the ground should be in fine
state Of tilth. For this purpose we have
found the spring tooth harrow, followed
by the acme harrow, set deep, to give
good results. Much of the success of a
tomato plant depends upon its behavior
the first week it is In the field, hence coz
litions should be those that will give the
east amount Of checking of growth from
plant that is seriously
checked from transplanting will seldom |
t ever give a maximum yield. So we
must lave the soil ia such fine state of |
ilth and moisture that the young plants
'oots can easily secure a good hold. II
just before setting is neglected,
" the particles of coil are partially packed |
md dried out, the young plant will have
lific uIty in establishing itself.
PLANT FOOD
The tomato responds quickly to the use
i commercial fertilizers added in the pro-
,er amount and form. How much to use
lpon any particular farm is q local Ques-
ion that can only be ans Nered by the
rover himself after repeated trials. Pot
sh seems to be the most important Ct the
hIee elements - Nitrogen, Phesphoric
cid and Potash-necessary for a tomato
rop. The plant seems to feel a lack of
u Efficient potash before it does a lack of
nficient nitrogen. P Phosphoric acid, be-
opd certain amount necessary for the
ealth of tile plant, does not seem to plav
nimportant part in yield. The old re-
for toHsto fertili zer is a
$40 formula. I believe that upon most
oils this could safely be changed to a
-+lO.
In our own practice it hasnot seemed to
ave made great deal of difference whet-
eF the fertilizer was broadcasted or put
IA she hill. However, as a general treat
nsnt We would recommend that half of
be fertilizer be placed in she hill before
citing, and the remainder broadcasted.
his latter application may he delayed
ntiI the plants have been in the field
Ouple of weeks. The most of the nitrogen
J in a form that is slowly available, al
hough if q machine planter is used in
citing the plants, one can we'll use one 10
Wo pounds of Nitrate of Soda in the wat.
ring cask on the planter, This watering
'iih Nitrate OF soda water will cause the
lants te grow rapidly and to quickly es.
lblish themselves in the soil. If this
'rced growth continues too long, it may
sEiously interfere with the first set of
.uit.
Where barnyard manure is available,
o better fertilizer can be obtained for
rowing tomatoes. If possible We would
pply almost twenty tons per acre. How
yer, We believe thst still better results
IN be obtained if the barnyard manure
g supplemented wirh light application
a