FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 25 



The proper condition of the soil, likewise favorable weather at plant- 

 ing time is also very essential. The soil should be in fine tilth and 

 warm before transplanting, otherwise plants had best remain in cold- 

 frames a few days longer, I have transplanted tomatoes and peppers to 

 open field as early as the 18th of May and as late as the 7tli of June 

 and still began harvesting ripe tomatoes the latter part of July by hav- 

 ing large, stocky, heavily budded plants ready to set out into the ground 

 the minute the weather looked favorable. 



As far as cultivation is concerned we all know that this is very essen- 

 tial to any growing crop, not only to conserve moisture and keep the 

 weeds in check, but with vegetables where an extra quick growth is re- 

 quired, it is exceptionally so. One or two applications during the early 

 part of the season of a commercial fertilizer rich in potash and phos- 

 phoric acid when the soil is already rich in decayed vegetable matter 

 will hasten the growth and likewise improve the quality of the crop. 



The use of bordeaux on the tomato is quite essential to prevent blight. 

 Have made a practice of using arsenate of lead with the spraying of 

 bordeaux in combating the potato beetle and tomato worm. Cut worms 

 are quite a menace in the early spring when plants are small but are 

 readily taken care of by the use of poisoned bait scattered upon the 

 ground either before or immediately after sowing or transplanting into 

 the field as the case may be. 



Some growers advocate the staking and training of tomatoes but our 

 experience has been that, while they ripen slightly earlier and are less 

 subject to rot, yet the results obtained would not warrant the extra 

 expense except on a small scale. 



In the growing of vegetables for special markets the work is only half 

 accomplished when the crop is grown. It requires considerable tact on 

 the part of the grower to seek out suitable markets for certain products 

 after they are carefully han^ested, graded, and packed for market. 



Special care should be exercised in the harvesting of vegetables, that 

 they may show up good by the time they reach the consumer. Espe- 

 cially is this true with such crops as tomatoes, peppers, melons, and 

 cauliflower. Tomatoes in particular must be picked at frequent inter- 

 vals so as not to allow them to become overripe. This also holds true 

 with other vegetables but not to so great an extent. 



It is very necessary that we have a good seasonable product, uniformly 

 graded, well packed in attractive packages, and every package guaran- 

 teed, to make a success of growing vegetables for a special market. 

 Your products must be of such quality and attractiveness as to not only 

 hold the markets already obtained, but also create new ones in ad- 

 jacent territory. Herein, the catering to a particular market necessi- 

 tates extra labor and tact on the part of the grower to make a success of 

 this method of marketing. While the expense is some greater, yet the 

 consumer expects and is only too willing to pay a few cents more for 

 a product that he knows is good. 



We should exercise the same judgment in the grading of vegetables as 

 with fruit, by making from two to three distinct grades of the same. 

 How many do? Careful systematic grading is one of the prime essen- 

 tials under this system of marketing and one that is becoming more 

 pronounced from year to year. 



Special care should be exercised in the selection of a neat attractive 

 package suitable for the particular product in hand and one which 



