Evening journal., 1913-08-13
State Cdnneries Canned
One Tenth of Countries
Tomatoes Last Year

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
NEWARK, Del. Aug. 1s.-Accord-
sne to a bulletin prepared by Pro-
sessor c. A. McCue. horticultural at
she Delaware College Experiment
station and his assistant w. z. Pei
ton. on Tomatoes for the Canning
FACTORY the pack in Delaware last
season was 100000 cases or one
zenith of the entire output OF the
1rnifed States. The canneries in
MARYLAND put up 100000 cases near
~ half OF the output of the country
hut a large quantity Of these were
shipped from Delaware.
Because of the rapid growth OF the
tomato industry In Delaware the Dul-
letin will be OF special interest ana
importance TO not only the farmers Of
Delaware. but also the thousands OF
farmers throughout the tomato belt
Of New Jersey and Maryland. IL IS
estimated that with a fair crop ana
because Of the fact that a larger acre
are has been planted the cannerles IN
Delaware this year should reach the
million and a half mark. Numerous
new canneries have been built since
the last season closed, which VIII en-
ahlc them to handle a larger crop
Tho money that this crop now brings
in annually TO Delaware farmers runs
into the hundreds Of thousands OF dol
lars. Experts, however, are OF the
opinion that the farmers have not
been getting as large a yield as IS
possihle If the tomatoes are looked
after I'm a scientific way. Professor
McCue has been making investiga-
tions throughout the state for several
years in addition TO numerous expert
ments that he has conducted at the
college experiment farm and his Dul-
letin is based lagoly on facts that ne
has learned In making the investiga-
tion.
The bulletin in part follows; "The
tomato Is one Of the most import
ant crops raised IN Delaware. Dur
ing the past canning season, the can
neries OF Delaware put up l,4OOOOO
cases Of tomatoes. The pack OF tne
entire United States was l4,000OOO
cases; that Of Delaware being one
tenth of the entire output OF the
country. Maryland. put up 6,OOO,O0O
cases, but many of the tomatoes pack
ed in Baltimore canneries were rais-
ed in Delaware. Many thousands OF
baskets were shipped to markets out
of the State, and an enormous
amount must have been marketed
within the State for local consump-
ton. There seems to be no way of
estimating the total amount of to-
matoes gown in Delaware. As this
crop is essentially a cash one, the
amount of money paid Delaware far
mers for it each year must be large.
The average production per acre is
far below what Il should be- Many
growers are producing tomatoes at
an actual loss when, by proper rota-
tions and improved methods OF cul-
ture they should be made to pay
"The tomato plant Is adapted to a
great variety of soils; producing good
crons on types ranging from the
heavy clays 10 the lightest sands. Like
other plants, however, Il seems "a
prefer certain soil conditions, that are
IN way independent Of the relative
amounts of sand and clay It may con.
tain. The tomato plant is dependent
upon food supply and moisture In Tho
soil rather than upon certain proper
tions Of sand and clay. The tomato
will not do well on wet land and
should never be planted in soil that
does not readily drain of its surplus
moisture after a rain. Thus clays
and clay loans that are well drained
will produce equally as good crops
as sandy soils that are plentifully sup
piied with humus. The ideal soil for
tke most profitable production Of to-
rnatoes is probably a sandy loan,
ktentifully supplied with humus,
federlain with a well drained clay
Fubsoil. The tomato grower should
not fail TO recognize the fact that a
good humus content is necessary In
al tvpes Of soil from the heaviest clay
70 the iiehtest sand"
fDuring the winter OF 1912, the
Horticultural Division sent out a list
OF questions, regarding tomato cul-
ture. 10 a large number Of tomato
sxowers in the State. TWO hundred
and seventy-three expressed their
ideas as 10 the best type of soils for
tomato production. The answers arc
CLASSIFIED as follows Clay loan, l27
sandy loan. 1o5; any good, rich. we'll
drained soil. is; loan, Z; no prefer
ance z: clay. s; sandy soil 3. II
will be interesting 10 compare yieldI
upon these various soils as estimated
ffom replies 70 the question "Wha
dn you consider a good yield Of TO
mates per acre2' Clay loan, S4 tom
per acre: sandy soil, SO; any good
rirh. well-dained SOIL Sc. II will b.
Observed that in regard to the actua
Yields obtained there IS little differ