Milford chronicle., 1925-02-27

GROWING EARLY TOMATOES for a money
crop by farmers of the Del-mar-via peninsula.
has been considered more or less seriously in
several places within the past few years. The
fact that the farmers of the southern part of
New Jersey have grown early tomatoes for years
and made success of the crop and the business
OF selling them after they are grown, has been
pointed out as guide for the farmers of Della
ware and Maryland, who are in about the same
degree of latitude so far as weather conditions
are to be considered as affecting the growth of
the plants and the ripening of the tomatoes
Growers before they enter into the business for
1t is business in itself, will first have to nves-
tigate the cost of starting the preliminary activ-
tiles which will first have to provide the eIe-
ments for success. There has to be hot beds for
starting the plants, which must be transplanted
~trom the seed beds where first sown and again
later be transplanted to other containers by
thousands before setting in the open field This
will mean investment in labor as well as equip
ment; unless the growers combine and have the
plants grown for them and guaranteed as to va
riety and healthy conditions. The preparation
OF the land for early tomatoes, the cultivation
and finally the condition in which the first pick
ings must be made for the early markets must
be well known to the individual growers The
most important points of all is selling the early
tomatoes after they are ready for market In this
business the grower not be successful of
clear money returns from the crop, unless per-
sonal investigation is made as to how the toma- |
toes are to be marketed and sold IN the market |
where they are to be sold. This means travel |
expense and other Investment of time as well
as money, to become informed as to how to get
the full results of the work ACCOMPLISHED in
growing the crop. This sounds discouraging to
the farmer who has been accustomed to plow,
plant and gather ripened tomatoes from the
acreage he has in cultivation on a farm, under
the present methods of raising tomatoes in Del
aware. Yet each point is as necessary for sue
cess as is the work and production on the farm
of the rtpened fruit If the growers desire to
engage in early tomato growing as business,
it will be wisdom and economy to have a few of
their number visit the successful growers of
New Jersey and at other points, where the crop
is grown. Let them investigate and get facts as
to the equipment, the cost of labor to an acre,
the methods of cultivation and how they are
picked from the vines for the early market; for
all of this is absolutely different from anything
they ever experienced in growing tomatoes for S
he canneries or factories of the Del-mar-via b
peninsula. If this policy is followed, there is t
certainly no reason why Delaware and Maryland i.
should not produce early tomatoes for the nor h
hern markets with greater gain for themselves, n
han in growing the tomato as the crop is pro- a
uced today. There is money in the business; a
ut it means spending money and attention to a
or failure will follow and disappoint- fl
lent result. We believe that the farmers who a.
rill go into the business right knowing all the b.
bstacles and be ready to meet them, will find tc
rowing early vegetables such as the tomato for Of
orthern markets, profitable business. Over in m
abbot County in Maryland, there is a movement Ii
} have farmers engage in the business this HI
pring and it is to be hoped they will go at it in
practical way. p,