The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1914-04-16
TOMATO CULTURE
by w r Elliott, District Agent U
SFarm Demonstration Work.

Select virgin soil, if possible free
of all plant diseases, in the prepara-
tion of the seed bed. First be GER
tain that you have secured fresh
seed for planting.
The year 1914 should be printed
on the package containing the seed,
it being reasonable to expect fresh
seed in this case. An ordinary soap
or soda box in the absence of hot
bed can be secured to plant the seed
in. Fill the box with soil to within
three inches of the top and pack
down well. This soil should not be
as fertile as the field in which the
plants are to be grown, as in this
case the plants would receive back
set, being transplanted from rich
soil to poor soil.
Mark off rows three to four inches
apart and half inch deep, drilling
the seed an inch apart in the row,
then cover and firm the soil we'll and
sprinkle with water almost at boil
ing point. Place box in southern
exposure, keeping the soil damp but
not too wet; and at night take the
box in doors for protection. Plant
ing in the drill obviates the necessity
of transplanting to secure stocky
plants. When plants have reached
a height of from three to four inches
pinch off all leaves except few at
the top and fill in between rows
with the same kind of soil in which
plants are growing) to within an
inch or two of the top. The plants
will then take root along the entire
length of the buried stem, and in a
short period the added root system
which is thus given the plant will
force it into vigorous growth.
When the plants have reached a
height of four inches they are ready
for the field.
Lift plants carefully, being sure
not to break the roots, and again
pinch off the leaves as above stated,
and set them deep in the soil. Sha-
ding will then seldom be necessary
except in very hot weather.
Overgrown plants can be planted
in a trench, by laying the stem in
the trench and setting the tops in
anupright position by packing earth
firmly around them.
An ideal location for a seed bed
for growing plants during the sum-
mer months will be found on the
north side of a fence running east
and west. Three inch strips two
and a half feet long can be tackled
on the top of fence posts and guano
sacks sewed together stretched
across them for protection against
the midday sun rays.
Since the tomato is grown exclu-
sively for its fruit, the plant should
not be forced to make large foliage,
and only enough nitrate Of soda
should be used to keep the plant Wig
orous and green; as nitrogen makes
plant growth. Phosphorus makes
fruit and potash strengthens the
growth, giving body to the plant,
color and frmness of fruit to the
tomato.
No set rule can be given for the
fertilization of this crop, as all soils
vary in fertility; but a good mixture
for tomatoes can be made by mix
ing 20 pounds 16 per cent acid, 100
pounds cotton seed meal, so pounds
nitrate of soda and so pounds muri-
ate of potash.
Slaked lime will be found very
beneficial ION most soils applied on
top of soil and we'll narrowed in
after land has been thoroughly pre-
pared. Lime should be applied two
or three weeks before planting if
used in large quantities. 1t acts as
an agent by counteracting acidity,
has the tendency to make sandy soils
more compact and clay soils more
porous, and helps to some extent to
n.o,opt topooto h1iuht