HAWAII KXTKIUMENT STATION. 397 



infoctod roots show tlio lihi'o-vasciihir Imiidlcs to lu- c()iiii)letoIy clo<>"oed 

 with «4T(':it iiuisses ot" hticteria. However, in the i-iisc ot" tliis second 

 root rot, \\ liii Ii iiuiy l>»' (-illcd ;i l)rown cove I'ot, no ('X})eriineiits or 

 iiivestiiiiitioiis lia\ c Ix'cii made, Wecaiise of a hiek of [)roper Uiborutory 

 e(|ui|)ni(>nt. 



TOMATOES. 



In Februarv. I'.Mi;',. the lirst experiment with tomatoes was under- 

 taken. ( )ne iiundred and forty-live varieties were secured from dealers 

 in tile I'nited States, Australia, and Kiiiope. The idea of the experi- 

 ment was in the main to determine what are the ))est connnercial 

 varieties for this climate. The tomato plant orows hei-e as a peivnnial, 

 hut in the case of almost all of the \arieties there is a lapid deterio- 

 ration in the (|uality of the fruit, especially when seed from improved 

 horticultural forms, locally grown, are replanted year after year. 

 While tomatoes are contiiuiously on sale in our markets the (piality 

 is not of the best, and the statement is often made that good tomatoes 

 can not he grown here. The plan of the experiment Avas as follows: 



Thi'ee methods of planting were tried, in Hats or boxes. The lirst 

 planting was in largi^ Hats under cloth. After two weeks the seedlings 

 were transplanted to small Hats under cloth, then hardened oH' in the; 

 o})en air prepaiatory to Hnally transplanting them to the lield. The 

 second method was to stai't the seed in small Hats under cloth ;uid 

 harden them oH' in the Hats by direct exposure to air and sunshine. 

 The third plan was to start the seed in Hats in the open air, with only 

 partial protection from the wind. In the field three methods of 

 l)lanting weic used. The vines were phiced in the furrow, on the 

 ri<lge, and on tlu^ level surface of the ground. Thirty vines were 

 used of each variety, ten vines in a row. Two vines in each row were 

 fertilized with niti'ate of soda and Thomas slag. One ^•ine in each 

 row was rigorously pruned I)aik. The l)lossoms were pulled off from 

 two vines in each i"ow, and the plant was not permitted to produce any 

 fi-uit until it had made a strong growth. Two forms of trellis were 

 used to keep the i)lants uj) oH' the ground. Some plants were simply 

 tied to a stake, and in the case of others a lath trellis was placed along 

 l»oth sides of the row to keep the lower branches oti' the ground. The 

 chief diHiculty in giowing tomatoes here is to get them of good size 

 and color. There is a fruit \\y which stings the tomato and deposits 

 its eggs in the fruit, and these de\-elop into maggots which utterly 

 ruin the fruit. Observations were also made in regai'd to the eH'ect of 

 dill'erent methods of treatment on this fruit Hy. Notice was taken in 

 regard to the shape, thickness of skin, size, swec^tness, keeping (|uality, 

 etc., and the extent to which the tomatoes rot on the vines. Some 

 varieties show (juitc a marked resistance, both to the prevalent tomato 

 rot and the attacks of the tomato Hy. 



