The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-25
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THE EDITOR

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EDITOR
Editor, The Times-News:
Would you please give me space
in your paper to say few words
about the possibilities of the to-
mato as a commercial crop in this
section?
1t might be well to preface this
letter by saying that l have made
the raising of tomatoes a hobby
for quite a number of years and
in several parts of the country.
My observations then will have
to be taken as those coming from
sort of composite agricultural
experiment station, the practical
farmer having to interpret them
in the light of his own circum-
stances.
From an experience of three
years in gardening in Henderson
vile, l have reached the conclu.
sion that tomatoes grown here are
unsurpassed in flavor and yield,
If planted early.
raise my own plants, sowing
the seed early in March in a hot
bed and transplanting the plants
into cold-frame at the proper
time, so as to have large, stOcky,
well rooted plants to put out in
the garden about May. Plants of
this kind make a much heavier
crop than weak ones set out later.
This point cannot be too
strongly emphasized. The early
crop here has proved to be excep-
tionally fine in every respect, but
the later paintings have been dis
appointing in more than one re-
spect. The vines are less prolific
and the fruit that does form is
liable to be damaged by the show
cry weather that usually prevails
in August.
On good ground, l am confident
ten tons to the acre of market
able fruit can be raised.
Now as to varities: After try
ing many, l ind Marglobe and
some of its recent hybrids so far
superior to the older varieties,
that it is a mistake to plant any
of the latter. Of these recent hy-
birds, two deserve special men
ton, namely: Pritchard's Scarlet
Topper and Rutgers.
For canning, Scarlet Topper
has, for this climate, decided
advantage, in that besides being
very prolific and it's fruit Of high
quality, it ripens it's crop early
and over a short period. Plants
set IN the field, as indicated above,
Will rlpen, practically the entire
crop in July, thus coming in ahead
OF the unfavorable weather in
August.
Marglobe is somewhat later
than Scarlet Topper and its sea-
son extends over a longer period.
Sunburn some years causes
considerable loss. To prevent this,
a variety with a heavy foliage is
desirable; and to meet this re-
quirement, Rutgers is the best of
the three. 1t is a new variety, be-
ing offered by many seed houses
this year for the first time. In NV
garden last year it proved a very
valuable acquisition, having the
good points of Marglobe, which it
closely resembles, as we'll as the
heavier foliage. Another recon-
mendation is the quality of its
juice, which is exceptionally fine.
l am confident no farmer will
go far wrong in planting either,
or all of these three varieties.
However, on account of local
weather conditions, Scarlet Top
per and Rutgers may prove the
most desirable.
Could not some enterprising
putrid politics is bad for business
(tIrb1nl Il ,.N 1la4