American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1914-04-11
Growing Tomatoes For
Canning Purposes

AS the Lehi Commercial Club is of
fering every farmer some free tomato
plants to try out their land, the fol-
lowing article is printed to tell how
others grow them:
Nearly every farmer or some mem
Der of the family has probably raised
tomatoes for their own consumption
each year, but the raising of tomatoes
for canning purposes differs somewhat
materially, and for that reason a
lengthy treatise upon the growing OF
tomatoes is considered worthy of pub
LEGATION. AS with all crops for can
ming purposes, the variety must be
right and the seed pure, If large
yield is desired. Among the different
varieties which are considered best
for this purpose experience has proven
that the New Stone" variety heads
the list, being strong grower and a
large, smooth, firm tomato, which rip
ems very early. The other varieties in
general use are the Perfection,
"Favorite" and Paragon" In secur-
ing seed for the raising of tomatoes II
Is always best to secure 1t at the can
ming factory, where II will be sold to
you at cost and you are sure of get
ting seed which Is pure and fresh.
The transplanting should be done as
soon as the ground Is thoroughly warm
and after all danger of frost Is past.
The plants should be set I'm rows about
five feet apart in the row and the rows
from five to six feet apart. II requires
from 1000 to $500 plants per acre.
The plants should be set deep I'm the
ground and the ground made firm
about them. and in dry weather they
should be literally watered when set
out. In some sections tomato grow
ers are using the ordinary tobacco
planter for setting out the plants, and
II is giving general satisfaction. There
is also hand planter made--which
can be secured from either the can.
ming company or implement dealers
which retails for about SIS, which Is
said to give good satisfaction I'm the
planting of either tomatoes or cab
bage.
In the cultivation OF the plants, II
the ground is In good condition and
| freshly narrowed at the time of plant
ing. II will not be necessary to use the
hoe at all. Two or three civilizations
are necessary. but they should be very
| light, just sufficient to stir the top
| soil, but there should be no cultivat-
Ing done after the plants have made
good growth and have commenced
to blossom, as continual cultivation
causes continual growth of tho vine
and retards the ripening of the fruit
No other attention OF the plant la ne
cessary until the fruit commences 10
ripen and Is ready for delivery to the
| factory.
The delivery should he made in reg
ulsr bushel crates--the crates will be
furnished the grower by the canning
company at actual cost. The Cramel
folding crate Is considered the best
and IL used by all the leading canning
companies II is customary for the
canning factory to own set of crates
and an exchange Of crates is made at
the factory - the grower simply ex-
changing his full crates for empty
ones. The fruit should be handled
with care, and by rights II should be
hauled to the factory on wagon
which bass prings, so as to avoid
bruising. They must be delivered 10
the factory In a thoroughly ripe and
red condition, as all green portions OF
the fruit must be cut away. making II
more expensive to peel and prepare
the fruit for canning and the grower
sustains loss In such fruit. In fact
tomatoes must be In good marketable
condition when delivered
The average YIELD of tomatoes Is
from $50 to 600 bushels per acre
With 1000 plants to the acre, and q
Weld Of one peck of tomatoes to
the plant, there will be a yield Of 500
bushels TO the acre. The average
factory price is from eighteen to
twenty-three cents pr bushel and
this makes tomatoes one OF the most