The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-05-10

The bulletin is resume of expert
ments started in the spring of 1910
and which extended over a period O
Ithree years. One acre of thu
horticultural grounds of the universe
ty farm was devoted to the expert
ment. Records of very careful ant
thorough nature were kept each year
The acre-tract was divided into three
equal divisions, and each division was
divided into four plats Division One
contained plats /, 2, 8 and a, and the
plants in this division were trained
on single stake. The plants in di-
vision Two were trained on a two
| pole trellis. The plants in Division
Three received no supporting or stalk
ing of any kind. One plat in each di-
vision was pruned to one stem; one
in each division pruned to two stems;
one in each division to three stems
and one in each division received no
pruning of any kind. The varieties
used in the experiment were the
Sparks Earliana, New Stone, and the
i Dwarf Champion.
The hotbed method was used in
starting the plants one year and the
greenhouse the other two years.
The bulletin shows that from the
records kept that it costs 1896 to pro-
duce enough plants by the hotbed
method to plant an acre.
A splendid explanation, with illus
rtrations, is contained in the bulletin
of the manner of construction of
manure hotbeds. The use and con-
struction of coldframes is also dis
cussed by Professor Wicks.
The records kept during the expert
ments show that the cost of planting
the tomato plants per acre was 1927
as an average for the three years.
The cost per acre for trelIising to-
matoes was found to be $7O.58, while
the cost per acre for stalking plants
was found to be $42.57, including
stakes and labor.
The Sparks Earliana variety gave
the first ripe fruit on the Idaho farm.
In 1910 this was on August Is, in
1911 on August 10, and in 1912 on
September 2. This recent experiment
conducted by Professor Wicks showed
that the date of maturity for the Pa
louise country has been much advanced
over the records of previous work
done at the station through pruning
and training methods.
The bulletin contains over 80 tables.
full of valuable information to the
tomato growers of the state. These
tables show many interesting facts
which will be of service to those who |
desire to engage in the business of |
growing tomatoes
The tomatoes were graded each |
year into fancy" second and
'culls." The total yields of the fancy" |
grade for the three years from the
acre was: 4139 pounds for 1910; 5O45 |
pounds in 1911, and 1895 pounds in
1912. The yield of seconds" was:
1889 pounds in 1910; 1853 pounds in
1911, and 1778 pounds in 1912. The
Yield of "culls" was: 1869 pounds in
1910; 3140 pounds in 1911, and 5114
pounds in 1912.
section of the bulletin is devoted
o insects and diseases, and treats of
he cures and preventions of such
PESTS.
The records given in the bulletin
how that the net profits which can be
called from an acre of tomatoes
where no pruning is done, and where
he plants are not trained but per-
nitted to grow on the ground are
reater than can be secured by any
Their method. The figures given in I,
ne bulletin as demonstrated by the
experiments conducted on the univer- :
ity farm, set the net profit at $343.63
er acre. The smallest profit, as dem
nstrated by the IL different plats,
anne from the one where the plants
ere pruned to one stem and trained
Il the stake, the profit per acre being
1929.
The bulletin contains two maps +
rawn by Edward L. Wells, United
tates weather bureau director, at
Disc. One is rainfall chart of the
ate, and the other temperature :
TART. R
Copies of this valuable bulletin will
ably be mailed to any farmer within
e state who desires one and who I
Ill write to Professor Wicks. "