The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-04-29
THE ORGANIZER MRS. ". O. GRO.
MER GIVES SOME VALUABLE
INFORMATION
so MEMBERS NOW
Information From Government Bulle-
tins In Condensed Form. Letters
VIII Appear Every Week From Mrs
Cromer Concerning the Work

MyDear Tomato Club Girls
In looking over the bulletins, copies
of which I sent each club member In
last Wednesdays mail I have come to
the conclusion that you need some
working directions to begin on, Of a
more concise nature tain the bulle.
tins afforded:
Seed-The following brands of seed
are recommended by the Government
bulletins-Stone, Acme, Ponderosa,
Matchless, Mammoth Livingston's
Beauty.
Fertilizers-Since the tomato is
grown exclusively for its fruit, those
fertilizers which induce a large
growth of plant and foliage are not
desirable in the production Of this
|crop. The ground should be plowed
deeply, then use harrow and drag.
Disk and harrow I'm stable manure
level culture is adequate where land
lis we'll drained. Ridges must be used
liz land is poorly drained. Commercial
fertilizers must be used as manure
docs not furnish all the elements of
plant food. Apply to Ito acre plat
item to twenty pounds nitrate of soda
SO to 100 pounds Of 16 per cent acid
phosphate and Is to 30 pounds of mu-
riate or sulphate Of potash to the plat.
Two 2-horse loads of manure shuold
be used on the Ito acre plat. II no
manure is used, add 40 to 80 pounds
of cotton seed meal to the fertilizers
already mentioned. On fairly rich
soils use the smaller amounts sug-
gested and on poorer soils the larger
amounts.
Setting the plants on the plat. Lay
of rows four feet apart and set the
plants two feet apart in row, which
will allow 81 plants in each row,
making a total OF SOB plants on the
Tie of an acre.
Not more than three shoots should
be allowed to develop from near. the
base of each plant. AS they grow tie
them carefully to a stake at least four
|teet tall driven in the soil beside
each plant. In tying it Is best to use
some soft Irvine or rafla, making first
q tie around the stake and a loose
loop under the base Of a leaf, and a
round the stem, so as to avoid cut
ting the stem of the plant as it in
oreases In size.
Cultivation-The tomatoes should
have frequent shallow cultivation to
prevent the growth Of weeds and
maintain a loose mulch of earth over
the ground to prevent evaporation
and to take. up and hold water which
falls in showers. AS soon as the
ground is in ut condition after a rain
cultivation should be commenced. The
|drier the season the more frequent
should be the cultivation so as to
prevent the formation of a crust or
the compacting Of the soil as a result
of walking between the plants.
I will be glad to furnish you names
OF manufacturers from whom you can
obtain cans and canning outfits.
The work of the teachers, the ru-
ral supervisor and the Tomato club
organizer is so closely correlated that
the above addresses are given in the
hope that our schools may be benefit
ted thereby.
AS some of our progressive schools
have formed Civic clubs for the pur-
pose Of identifying the school and
|neighborhood grounds we also take
pleasure in giving the following ad-
jdress, Prof. C. F. Niven, Clemson Col
|lege, S. c. If requested to do so Prof
lMven will visit any school in South
lCarolina and lay off the school
Igrounds. He will also furnish shrubs
vines, bulbs, and flowers for the
school yards free of cost.
Bulletins containing plans 1of
school buildings and suggestions for
painting same will be sent free by
IProf. R. q. Lee, Clemson, s. c.
Articles will appear weekly in the
|eeunty papers on Club Requirements
spraying, Bordeaux Mixture, Harvest
ing, Canning. The Pure Food anu
Drug Act.
Send in names of new members ana
addresses all required.
Mrs. W. O. Cromer, Organizer