Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1917-05-10
Treatment For Tomato
Plants.
EXPERT Advice on How to Best
Produce Healthy Plants.

this year to meet the unequaled demand
for goods, the Maryland Agricultural
Extension Service has named Prof. q. +.
Temple, specialist in plant diseases, to
Cooperate with growers and county dem
onstration agents in preventing waste
from the spread of disease or improper
handling. Prof. Temple has devoted
several years study to tomatoes and be-
lieves that much injury can be prevented
by timely and efficient treatment. He
says,
IF we should ever try to grow large
crop of tomatoes, we should try to do so
this year. The canned products, especial
ly, are going to be needed for our military
forces, and then, too, the contract prices
are somewhat higher this year than
usual. In view of these facts, it would
seem that every practical precaution
should be taken to secure a maximum
crop.
IA great handicap to the production
of a maximum crop is found in setting IN
the field diseased plants, or plants that
have been partially eaten by insects;
weak or stunted plants require consider
able time to recover, if they ever recov-
err. If diseased plants are set in the field,
each infected plant becomes a center
from which the disease may spread to
other plants. This condition can be i'm
proved upon by giving attention to GER
tain details in connection with the grow
ing of the plants.
The Seed Bed.
every tomato grower of experience
has learned that the seed bed should be
we'll made This includes not only the
working of the soil but also the applica-
ton of fertilizers. Sufficient fertilizers
must be used to start the plants off rapid
ly and to keep them growing. II the
fertilizer was not applied before planting
it is possibly not too late yet to apply
some quick-acting fertilizer to the sur
face where it may be worked into the
soil with garden tools.
"For several years the Maryland State
College has recommended the spraying
of tomato seedlings in the seed bed, but
only recently have the growers taken
this up as a practical operation in the
growing of the crop. In some parts OF
the State last year, those men who spray
ed in the bed had good plants; whereas,
in many cases, where the plants were
not sprayed in the bed they were weak
and in poor condition for planting. In
some cases only fence or public high
way separated sprayed bed from an un-
sprayed bed, but there was great diff
ference between the plants of the two
beds; the plants in the sprayed bed were
strong, vigorous, in fine condition for
setting; but the plants in the unsprayed
bed were weak, stunted, and unfit for
setting.
probably the greatest pest in the pro-
duction of plants is the "Flea Beetle.
This little insect is so eager to attack
the young plants that it even crawls un-
der the little clods as soon as the ground
is broken by the plants, and attacks the
little plants before they get entirely
through the ground. 1t attacks not only
the leaves but also the tender stems, and
plants attacked in this young condition
seldom recover.
The LEAF Blight" which is so severe
in destroying the leaves of the plants in
the field, also attacks the seedlings IN
the seed bed. 1t, too, attacks the tender
stems as we'll as the leaves, and plants
so infected almost never recover. 10
control these two pests one should use
spray material which is composed of blue
stone and poison. Commercial prepa-
rations such as Pyrox, or Bordeaux Zinc
serve the purpose very well. Both OF
these come in small containers with d.
rections for applying. Homemade Bor-
deaux, 4-4-5O, with the addition Of a
pound and half of powdered aesenate
of lead is standard for this spraying.
"The first application should be made
before all of the plants have come thro'
the ground. Spray carefully all parts of
the little plants, but do not apply so much
of the spray material that it will soak
down through the ground and injure the
tender roots. Applications should be re-
peated every week until the plants are
set in the field.
Thinning.
"Many tomato growers plant about
twice as much seed as is actually needed
for their fields, some of them say that
they plant pound for themselves and 9
pound for the Flea Beetle. At any rate,
the seeds are usually planted too thick,
and the result is, the plants grow so close
together that they are very spindling. A
tall, slender plant is not desirable for
setting in the field; on the other hand,
stout, thick plant is much to be prefer
red. These strong plants may be pro
duced by thinning to about one to two
inches in the bed.
inexperienced growers, and some
times others, do not always use theil
best judgment in removing the plant
from the seed bed. They often pull tn
plants from the ground. sometimes with
out watering them beforehand, or loosen
ing the ground beneath the roots. L
the plants are pulled from the ground,
large number of the rootlets are neces
| L.