The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-04
CANNING CLUB INSTRUCTIONS.
How to Prepare Soil and Plant To-
tOmatOcs-CultiyatiO
To Canning Club Members.

Letter No. 543 gave the first in
structions for Your gardening. We
asked you to keep it and all subse-
quent letters, read them carefully and
begin at once to keep Il record of all
work you do. a daily Record Book,
B-5l1i has been made for YOU to use
throughout the season. ii you have
not already received copy, ask your
county agent for it.
Here is the second letter Of the Sc
ries. AS before we are indebted to
Mr. II. G. Thompson of the Horticul-
tural Division for the directions which
follow:
Preparation of The Soil for Tomatoes.
If the land was not plowed in the
fall, plow as early in the spring as
possible and prepare it thoroughly by
narrowing and dragging. Where the
land was plowed in the fall replow it
in the spring-then apply the manure
and thoroughly mix it with the soil
by disking and narrowing. Harrow
and disk the soil as many times as is
necessary to put it in the very best of
condition and use a drag or roller to
break up the clods. Where the land
is we'll drained level culture should
be practiced, but where the soil is
poorly drained, the plants should be
set on ridges. The natter the ridges
the better. provided good drainage is
secured. Never use narrow peaked
ridges as these dry out too quickly.
Fertilizers.
Even where manure is used COM
mercial fertili2 T. should be applied as
the manure will not supply all the
elements Of plant food needed. For
soil that is manured at the rate of 2
to loads on the 10 acre plat, if
is advisable to apply 10 to 20 pounds
of nitrate OF soda, so to 100 pounds
OF 16 per cent acid phosphate and Is
to 80 ounds of muriate or sulphate
of potash, to the plat. If no manure
Is used add 40 to so pounds of cotton
seed meal in addition to the fertilz-
ers already mentioned. Where the
soil is we'll supplied with potash the
amount of muriate or sulphate Of
potash could be reduced. On fairly
rich soil use the smaller amounts
suggested and on poorer soils use the
larger amounts. The fertilizer can be
applied broadcast or sown in the row
When distributed in the furrow, the
fertilizer should be well mixed with
the soil by running a cultivator along
the row. After the fertilizer is we'll
mixed with the soil in furrOw, the
ridges should be thrown up over the
row and leveled off with light drag.
Setting the Plants.
Before taking up the plants, the
soil in which they are growing
should be thoroughly soaked in order
TO make it adhere to the roots. Where
the plants are grown in pots, cans, ETC.
the whole mass of soil should adhere
TO the plant when it is set out. If
the plants are not grown in individ-
ual receptaclcs, us large q ball of soil
as possible should be taken up with
each plant.
The plants for the early crop
should be set out as soon as all dan
ger OF frost is over. A good method
to use in setting the plants is to open
furrow with a turn plow and set
the plants in this furrow. If the soil
is dry, pour in about a pint Of water
around each plant AS soon as the
water has soaked in. pull some dry
soil around the plant.
The distance of planting depends
on the method of culture. Where the
plants are to be pruned to one or
two stems and tied to stakes make
the rows to feet apart and set the
plants to 1-2 feet apart in the
row. If the plants are not to be train
Cd to stakes, set them to feet
apart in the row with the rows feet
apart.
Cultivation.
Cultivate the soil as often as nee
ossary to keep the surface loose and
free from weeds and grass. Frequent
shallow cultivation should be follow
cd ut all times SO that the moisture
viii be retained. Use n light culti-
vator rather than shovel plow,
sweep or turning plow. Some hand
hoeing will be necessary 30 keep the
wee dis down and the soil lOosO arounn