Smyrna times., 1927-03-30
SMYRNA TOMATO GROWERS TO
DISCUSS THE TOMATO CROP
MEETING WILL BE HELD SCHOOL
AUDITORIUM ON APRIL 5TH
Meetings Arranged For Other Parts
of Kent County TOO-Dr.T.F. Mann
of University of Delaware to Talk


of Kent County ToO-Dr.T.F. Mann
of University of Delaware to Talk
The attention of all the tomato
growers in the central part of the
state is called to the series of meet
ings which will be held in Kent coun-
ty next week under the direction of
the Agricultural Extension Depart
ment of the University of Delaware
in cooperation with the local Gamers
and tomato buyers with. view to-
ward interesting the farmers in the
economic production and better cul-
tural methods of this crop. Arrange
ments for these meetings are being
made by County Agent Russell EVIL
| son with the assistance of these local
canning house operators and buyers,
and every tomato grower in the coun-
ty is cordially invited to attend. The
itinerary is as follows: Smyrna High
School Auditorium-Tuesday evening
April 5, at 7.30; Oak Grove School
House, east of Wednesday ev-
ening, April 6, at 7.3O; Frederica-
Mitten's Hall, Thursday evening, April
7, at 7.30. Although these meetings
have been planned for the benefit of
all the tomato growers in the county
and surrounding territory, they will
be of special interest to those farmers
who are growing tomatoes for the
open markets, as the use of the sec
ond early varieties will be one of the
principle subjects discussed by Edgar
w. Montell, Crop Service Specialist
During the past two years consider
able effort has been made by the Kent
County Agent in cooperation with TIE
Bureau of Markets Of the State Board
of Agriculture and several interested
tomato Gamers and local buyers to in
terest the farmers in the planting Of
a part of their normal tomato acre
age in second early varieties as one
of the methods of at least partially
relieving the glut which naturally fol-
lows when all of the late varieties of
tomatoes are dumped on the markets
within the short period of few
weeks during the regular canning sea
son.
Plan of Setting Out Crops Advised
The plan of setting out a portion of
the acreage to these second early var
ieties should appeal especially to
those farmers who follow the system
of selling their crop on the open mar
kets each year, for this plan would !
have a tendency to extend the ripen-
ing season over a longer period of /
time thereby resulting in a more sat |
isfactory price for their product than /
they normally receive when all of the
crop is planted to the late maturing |
varieties. Arrangements have been
made by these local buyers to have
these second early tomato plants ship /
ped from Georgia in carlot shipments /
to the farmers in Kent county at a
very reasonably cost per thousand, and /
care will also be taken to insure that i
these plants will arrive in first class
condition for setting in the field The
varieties which are being secured for
this purpose are the Greater Balti-
more and Marglobe The subject of
economic production of tomatoes will
also be discussed at each of these
by Dr. Thos. F. Manns of
the University of Delaware who has
been cooperating with Kent County
Agent Wilson in this program of
more and better tomatoes on limited
The problem before the
farmers today throughout the country
is how to obtain greater profits from
their crops, and this is especially true
Of the tomato growers in the eastern
part of the United States where the
average yield per acre is below that
Of the middle western states which
are rapidly coming into the tomato
growing industry in direct competi-
ton with the eastern farmers.
Increase the Production Per Acre
In order to meet this competition,
our production per acre
must be increased in addition to the :
raising of the standards of quality,
)ut a warning should accompany this
production program to the
effect that the acreage must not be
expanded along with this increase in
yield per acre. Such a practice among
he growers generally would soon
end to ward an over production
which in turn would result in decid- !
ID reduction in the market prices =,
hereby placing the entire tomato j.,
.rop on a very unsound basis.