Milford chronicle., 1930-02-14
TOMATO DEMONSTRATIONS
PLANNED


Although tomato projects have
been included in the agricultural
program of work in Kent county
for several years, it has been only
during the past two years that an
effort has been made by County
Agent Russell E. Wilson to compare
the yielding qualities of the leading
commercial canning varieties, and
the yields from plants of these same
varieties set in the fields at different
dates, as the projects of former
years consisted in promoting the
community plant beds as means of
providing the growers with good
plants of uniform quality at rea-
sonable cost.
Previous to Incorporating the
present tomato projects in the coun-
ty program, the tomato situation was
discussed at length upon several Oc-
casions with representative grow
ers and Gamers in order that sug-
gestiOns might be obtained which
would be of value in formulating a
program for the economic prOduc-
ton of the crop. AS the result of
these contacts the variety compari-
son and plant-setting projects were
agreed upon as having the greatest
economic possibilities in aiding the
commercial canning industry in this
section by improving the quality of
the product and increasing the yield
per acre. In connection with this
program, however, the tomato grow
ers have been advised against ex-
panding the acreage, and to give
more thought to the growing of more
and better tomatoes on a limited |
number of acres.
The variety demonstrations which |
were conducted in 1929 on the farms |
of R. L. Lloyd, Jacob Crossley, and |
M. E. Moffett in the Kenton and Clay
ton areas consisted of a comparison |
of the Marglobe with the Greater
Baltimore, Indiana Baltimore, and |
Champion, and the results
of these demonstrations clearly dem
onstrated that the Marglobe is a very
variety for commercial
canning purposes if proper cultural
methods are followed in growing the
crop. This variety is not only
valuable one from the standpoint of
but it is a most desirable
tomato for canning, as the fruit is of
The highest quality and it processes
we'll in the cans. Under favorable
weather conditions the Marglobe va
,iety will come into production sew
eral days earlier than these other
varieties, and it will also produce
higher yield per acre if the plants
ire set in the field between May Is
ind 80, and plenty of high grade fer
ilizer is used.
The other division of the tomato
work in Kent county last year COM
)rised a series Of demonstrations to
how the economic Importance Of
etting plants in the field between
Iay Is and 80, as compared to the
,eriod from June 1 to 10, which is
he usual time when the majority of
he farmers in this county set their
omato plants for the main crop.
'hese demonstrations were conduct
d on the farms of Edward Hughes,
ohm w. Arthurs and Jacob Crossley :
I the Kenton community, and the
arly tomato plants that were used q
/ these fields were grown in cloth I
OVered, cold frames from seed sown I
uring the third week in March.
The results of these demonstra- C
ons last year were not as outstand- b
Ig with reference to the difference
yield as they might have been if r
le weather last summer had been V
ore favorable, for under normal Il
Gather conditions the tomato plants S
hich were set out early would have a.
elded considerably more per acre fe
an those which were set out as il
tie as June 1, or even later. The m
avy rains which came the early / 81
rt of August, therefore, had more o1
,ect upon the late set plants than te
ey did upon those that were set r
rlier. in
In addition to these demonstra- +b
ms, several other farmers in Kent r,
unity are also growing early to-
ito plants in cloth-covered, cold w
lmes, indicating that this plan of y"
wing plants ready for the field
I'm ten to fifteen days earlier than
, usual period is rapidly spreading III
long the more progressive tomato WI
overs. In commenting upon this m
rk Mr.. Wilson states that if these ol
ojects will only result in encour- ed
ing tomato growers to use earlier ed
lnts, and the production Of high an
standard product for canning pur- tn
ses, the work will be regarded as en-
IL worth the effort in promoting tit
III a program to place the tomato Ii
Iustry on a more profitable basis wi
this county. tel
No