Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-04-05
.!'''''s''s''s-.s'.s' Observation-Disclosures.
!. TOMATO CULTURES. j.
'l'.!..I..l''F..i..l. Observation-Disclosures.
(Clemson College Bulletin)


dred plants in small space to OBJ.
tain a sufficient supply for the table
during the summer, and surplus tC
can for winter use. The tomato re-
spends quickly'to proper attention OF
to neglect. If the soil Is properl v
prepared and the plants properly cul-
tirated and fcrtlized AND Kept free
from insect and fungus diseases
good results are almost certain. On
the other hand, If tomat oes do not
receive close attention and care, il is
practically useless to plant item.
Cultivation of tie Soil.
The tomato grows we'll on most any
type of soil. For home use it IS only
necessary to select Il good garden
spot that would give good results
with other vegetables. This soil,
when thoroughly prepared, is salts
factory, but, for early crops, a light
sandy loan is best
The soil should be broken deem, at
least 2 incnes, and thoroughly pull
verized. Clods are very obiectiona-
| bic in the garden, not only foHtoma-
| to culture, but for other vegetables
| as well. Therefore, as soon%as the
soil Is broken, these clods, #if there
are any. should be pulverized at
| once. If they are allowed tosdry be-
| fore they are broken it is difficult to
put the soil in proper condition. [f
tho soil is Spadcd. a good plan is to
thoroughly pulvcrize the soil as each
sDadeful is turned. When the plow
is used. follow with the harrow i'm
mediately.
The tomato is gross feeder, there
fore, 1t Is necessary for the soil to
be very fertile. A good application
OF well-rotled stable manure, scat
tered broadcast and thoroughly
worked into the soil, is most essen
tial. This manure assists in retain
ing moisture for the plants loosens
stitf soils, as we'll as furnishing plant
food Oar potash supply this year is
very limited. and for that reason sta
Bile manure is particularly needed
When the soil Is properly prepared
for setting the plants, scatter in the
drills commercial fertilizer at the rate
Of about 500 pounds per acre. This
should analyZe about s per cent phos-
| phate. 3 per cent nitrogen. and from
6 to 8 per cent potash AS it IS al
most impossible to obtain potash this
year. about the best fertilizer that
can be used, not only for tomatoes,
but for other vegetables, is mixture
OF equal parts. by weight, of acid
| phosphate and cotton seed meal. APP
| ply in the drill at the rate of 500
pounds per acre. or 10 pounds for
the 100 plants for the home garden
tomato plot. About the time the
! plants begin to bloom give q side
dressing Of The same amount of the
| fertilizer.
| Give the plants frequent and shall
low cultivation to keep THE weeds and
grass down, and to retain Moisture.
Cultivate after each rain as soon as
| the ground is dry enough. The soil
| should be stirred at least once a week
whether it rains or not. This prac-
| tice should be observed with all veg
etables in the garden.
Training the Plants.
For home use it is better to train
the tomato plants to a single stem.
Set the plants in rows three feet
apart ard Is inches in the drill. Re-
move all laterals as soon as they ap-
pear and keep the plants tied to a
stake in order to keep them from fall
ing over. This practice of training
will result in the production OF bet
ter fruit and eliminate most Of the
| rotting.
Varieties OF Tomatoes.
For an early crop OF smooth, at
tractive tomatoes, Sparks Earlianna
IS about the best variety to plant.
Set out the plants as soon as all dan
ger OF frost is over. For home use.
the first planting should consist Of
onc-half Earlianna and one-hall
Stone plants. In order to gather
x>s,l, BOO - 1y<>
successive paintings OF the Stone va
| riety every four weeks untia about
| August 9TH. There will be green
| tomatoes on the plants that were set
out last when frost appears. If these
vines are pulled up and hung under
| shelter before they are damaged by
frost, most Of this green fruit will
| ripcn. When the plants are handled
| in this manner we have had fresh to-
matocs from the garden until nearly
| Christmas.
| Discusses OF Tomatoes.
The tomato is subject to several
| diseases that are exceedingly injuri-
Gus. The tomato wilt is one of the
most destructive. About the time
the plants begin to fruit heavily, the
plants wilt and die in the course Of a
day or two. The leaves appear as ii
hot water had been poured on them
| II the bark is peeled. the inner pOr-
tiOn OF the stem will be dark wilt
attacks the plant mainly through the
| roots. II comes from the soil. Since
il works inside the plant 1T cannot be
controlled by spraying. The secret
OF success lies in prevention. Never
plant tomatoes in soil infested with
| wi %
| den last year. and they are grown
| tborn thi. y.ar urilt ic nlnoot cnr,