Milford chronicle., 1920-04-02
TO INCREASE The TOMATO
PRODUCTION In DELAWARE
PROGRAM OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
WORK in AGRICULTURE AND HOME
ECONOMICS.
DELAWARE COLLEGE AND The
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRI-
CULTURE COOPERATING.

We invite the attention of Tomato
growers to some timely suggestions,
among which is the important advice
to make an early start in preparing
the seed-bed and securing at once the
necessary seed, and seed from reliable
sources only.
To demonstrate methods of disease
control and better cultural methods
for growing tomatoes.
Methods
In carrying out this project the pro-
cedure outlined below should be fol-
lowed.
Seeds and Varieties
Do not use tomato seed gathered at
a tomato annery-arOund the pulp
machine or skinning table or from
the drains. Such seed is not cheap at
10 cents a pound. Buy the best seed
you can get from reliable sources.
The Importance of Early Plants
Much greater yields can be secured
when plants are set in the field ear
lier than is now the practice.
Seed Bed and Plants
The grower must use a new seed
bed this year The seed bed shall be
we'll fertilized and gotten into good
physical condition before planting and
the seed must be started early enough
to insure stocky, well grown plants
by the 10th of May. We suggest that
the grower make a cold frame and
cover it with some cheap cloth in or
der to avoid frost. Full directions for
making a cold frame will be given if
the grower does not know the meth
cd.
Control of Insects and Diseases in
the Seed Bed
If flea beetles are bad spray plants
in seed bed with Bordeaux mixture
plus arsenate or lead or some good
commercial spray. Plants should be
sprayed as soon as they are well out
of the ground and this spraying
should be done at least once every
week until they become large enough
to be set in the field. The day before
setting in the fields the plants should
be thoroughly sprayed and should not
be moved from the seed beds while
wet with spray mixture. We recon-
mend the use of " lbs. of dry arsen-
ate of lead to be added to Bordeaux
mixture.
Soils for Tomatoes
Select land that is well drained in
a good state of fertility and good
physical condition, and which has not
been in tomatoes, Irish potatoes, pep |
pers, or egg plants for at least three
years. If possible select a piece OF
land which has had green manur-
ing crop such as COW peas, clover or
rye turned under within the last year.
If you know your land to be infected
with wilt try to procure for this land
one of the wilt resistant varieties.
Preparation of Land
Early blowing of the land is desir-
able. Plow as deeply as the soil will
hermit without turning up too much
new earth. If a clover crop or sod is
to he plowed under, disking is recon-
mended for plowing. The land should
be thoroughly prepared and kept free
from clods.
Fertilizers
Commercial fertilizers applied at the
rate of 1000 lbs. per acre is recon-
mended, 600 lbs. of this should be
before field is laid OFF. 400
lbs. additional should be applied in the
rows about 10 days before plants are
set in the field. We advise for med
inn early crops and on light soil a
4-S-4 mixture, for later varieties such
as Stone and Greater Baltimore on
heavy soil use a 2-8-3 mixture.
If well rotted stable manure is
available use this broad cast as a top
dressing and disk it il the soil be-
fore planting. ModerS applications
Of manure should be accompanied
with 400 lbs. of fertili per acre IN
rows under the plants.
Setting the I ants
Plants should be removed from the
seed bed carefully, saving as much OF
he root system as possible. Place the
plants in rows it. apart spacing the
plants 3 #. apart in the rows. By fol-
owing this method green manure
,rops can be planted in with the last
cultivation and excellent results OBJ
aimed. Plants should be ''watered IN
f set in dry weather and should be
leeply set on a slight ridge.
Cultivation
Clean level cultivation is necessary.
Ieep all weeds and grass out. Guilt
ate frequently to conserve the mols-
ure even if weeds are not present
cultivate as early as possible after
very rain. Usually six CIVILIZATIONS
re necessary. DO NOT cultivate
r work in the fields while the vines
re wet. this tends to spread diseases.
Spraying
At the present time we do not rec
mmen,i sDra-;ng the tomatoes for
he average grower, if spraying is to
q done il should be started about
ulv the 1st, and at intervals OF ten c
avs. We recommend Bordeaux 4-4-5.
Picking
We recommend also to avoid pick
az while the vines are wet.