Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-05-06

and reach the can within two hours
after leaving the vine or stalk. Thus
we maintain quality and it cannot be
done in any other manner.
Under the new condition, that is,
when the factory on the new site is
completed, the time from the vine to
the can, fast as it now is, will be
materially shortened Then, too, there
Will be little or no exposure to bac-
terra which feed on the sugar of vege-
tables thus turning it into Tactic acid
which ruins flavor.
The cleanliness is next to godliness
will be eXemplified not only in the
new plant, but on the farm. Infinite
care will be exercised in handling ev-
cry item that comes from the farm
and thereafter until it is sealed in the
can and ready for the housewife. This
has been rule of the company since
its inception and never for any reason
has vigilance been relaxed.
Back of the Red-and- White Label is
the factory, and back of the factory
the farm. where we find the beginning
of all the good things used in the
making of our products Practically
| all food products come from the soil
| and only plants have the power to
convert the soil solutions into edible
products, either directly, as vegeta-
blees fruits and grains, or indirectly,
as milk, butter, eggs and meat, as food
of animals must all have been first
formed by plants.
The sole purpose Of our Agricultur-
al Department is to see that the fac
tory is amply supplied with vegetables
of the highest possible quality. This
we are attempting to do in three ways
First, by developing new and spe-
cial strains of higher quality than any
known varieties. To accomplish this
and We are making careful and in
ldividual selections, having ever before
us the standard we hope to attain.
The Improvement of plants by this
means is based upon the fact that no
1.-TWO plants are exactly alike, and
therefore constant selection from the
livery best means gradual improve
ment. We are also devoting consid-
cradle time to artificial or hand cross
ing.
The purpose of this method of
breeding is to break up the individual
combinations OF qualities or charac-
Iters in the hope of securing the good
qualities of both parents in at least
one plant of the offspring. The break
ing up of fixed character combinations
opens up a wide field for seIective
work, as such new forms very more
widely than is the case with older
varieties which have been selected for
years to conform to definite type.
Too much stress cannot be laid on
the Importance of breeding and selec-
ton to secure the very highest quail
ity of vegetables, as most CT the vari-
eties now grown have been selected
for their appearance and heavy yield
ing properties, rather than for quail
Iity.
Our second division of work is that
of field experimenting, to determine
the best methods to follow in prepar-
ing the soil, time and method of plant
ing the seeds, proper distance of
planting and properly fertilizing in
order that the crop may have a bal
anced ration, available at such times
as will be needed to support healthy,
normal plants. Insects and diseases
must also be thoroughly understood
in order to prevent serious injury
from their attacks.
Il Plants are subject to diseases no
less than animals and in many cases
an inferior crop, not only from the
standpoint of yield, but Of quality as
we'll, is the result.
1t may we'll be said that each plant
is a factory wherein raw material,
such as soil elements, sunshine, rain
and air are converted into organic
compounds which are used in develop
ing its different products of seeds or
fruit. We can therefore see that any
reduction in the leaf area of the plant
due to attacks on insects or diseases
reduces not only the quality of the
plant factory but the quality of the
product as we'll.
Our third division of work is that
of putting into practice through our
different contracting growers the les
sons taught in the work previously
) outlined A large amount of the yege-
tables used hv IIS are orWOn AFT Camn