Tomato Notes for 1892. 



1. Quick and sltw fertilizeons. — The influence of h.eavj manur- 

 ing upon tomatoes has engaged our attention for a nunLber of years. 

 It is a common belief that the tomatO', unlike most plants, isi not 

 benefited by rich soil or heavy fertilizing. " The plants run to 

 vine,'- the gardeners say. There must be some ti-uth in this belief, 

 else it could not have become so widespread and be held so tena- 

 ciously. l*roduotivenesis in the tomato^ in the northern fc^stjates is 

 largely, if not chiefly, a question of early beaiiug; the plant will 

 outlive any northern season, and its life is therefore determined 

 by contingencies of frost rather than by any inherent limit of 

 duration. The plant never matures here, and it would probably 

 oontinue to bear for some months if not desitix)yed. We have car- 

 ried plants in beaiing condition thi'ough two winters. It is appar- 

 ent, therefore, that any fertilizer which is not at once available 

 tx) the plant but which gives up its materials comparatively late in 

 the season, will maintain a vigorous growth and probably delay 

 fruitfulness. Coarse stable manm'es belong to this class. Lt is 

 some time before they become thoroughly decomposed and incorpor- 

 ated with the soil, and if applied heavily it is prubable that they will 

 give unsatisfactory results. If the season were long enough to allow 

 the plant to live out its natm'al lifetime it is conceivable that the 

 materials would be gradually used and that the total productive- 

 ness of the plant would be as great^ if, iu fact, not greater, chan 

 it would have been under a treatment which caused it to bear 

 heavily at an earlier period. Thoroughly decomposed manures 

 ought to give quicker and therefore more satisfactory results than 

 coarse ones, and proper concentrated fei"tilizers might give better 

 results than either. It would be intierestiug toi know if stable 

 manure applied in the fall — and which, therefore, becomes thor- 



