Tomato ]^otes foe 1892. 291 



The second column, in each, instance, shows the total yield. 

 The trained plants gave earliest results, averaging 1.08 pounds 

 to the plant up to the last of August, against 1.04 pounds from 

 the check lot; and this difference is important because the trained 

 plants have much less bearing surface than the others. The 

 total product for the season is nearly half as much to the plant 

 (four pounds as to nine pounds), but the trained plants occupy five 

 times, and more, less ground than the others, so that the yield 

 per acre or per square yard is two or three times greater from 

 the trained plants. These results match those obtained last year. 

 This is the method pursued in forcing tomatoes for winter fruit 

 where the greatest possible yield must be produced. Both last 

 year and this we found less fruit-rot upon the trained plots than 

 upon others. We feel safe in recommending single-stem training 

 for home cultivation of the tomato, and we believe that it cun 

 be made profitable for the early crop in market plantations. The 

 plants can be tied to stakes, to cords stretched up and down 

 between two horizontal wires, or to any support which the grower 

 may fancy. The important points are to let but one stalk grow, 

 and to keep it securely tied to its support. 



16. Fruit-rot. — It is well known that the rot of the fruit is 

 infiuenced to a considerable extent by the method of growing and 

 training the tomato. Single-stem training, as discussed above, 

 usually lessens the rot, and so does any system of training which 

 keeps the plant open and dry. Last year we found that weak 

 plants — those which had been poorly handled before setting in 

 the field, and which had no fertilizer — gave more diseased fruits 

 than those which were strong and vigorous and had been well 

 fed. The plants set very early in the field also gave more rot 

 than those set in June. It is impossible to say, however, if these 

 variations were due to the treatments, or if they were merely 

 incidental. Accurate observations were made this year in all 

 our tomatoes, and the most important of them are tabulated below . 



Table XXII. — Fruit-Rot Under Various Treatments. 



Per cent rot. 



1. Land heavily manured in spring with stable manure . . 8.2 



2. Land heavily manured in faU with stable manure. ... 14.0 



3. Land fairly rich, no manure nor fertilizer 6.2 



