280 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Table XX. — Trimmed plants. 



Plot. 



1. Trimmed Jnly 28, Angnst 8 and 30 



2. Trimmed August 8 and 30.. 



8. Trimmed August 30 



4. Check 



Average No 

 of fruits 

 per plant. I 



Average 



weight of 



crop per 



plant. 



Lbs. 



Average 



weight of 



individual 



fruits. 



Ozs. 



7.7 

 7.6 

 9.3 

 9.1 



5.7 

 6.0 

 5.9 

 6.1 



The early trimmed plants gave considerably less yield than the late trim- 

 ming or the check. There was no constant difference in earliness. The 

 figures, as they stand, seem to teach that the f)lants had better not have 

 been trimmed, for altliough there is a trifle gain in the late-trimmed lot 

 (No. 3), the increase is not enough to make one feel sure that it is due to 

 the treatment. In 1890, however, trimming on July 28 and August 25 gave 

 considerably increased productiveness and earliness. In 1891, the trim- 

 mings were made August 3, August 24, and September 18, and the results 

 were indifferent; it was then thought that the unsatisfactory yields were 

 due to the lateness of the trimming, but the first trimming this year was 

 made on the same date as in 1890, but with opposite results. So we are 

 still in doubt as to whether trimming promises any benefit; but it is evident 

 that it does not yield decided results. 



15. Single-stem irainivg. — A good number of Ignotum plants were set a 

 foot apart in rows, and each plant was tied up to a perpendicular cord, but 

 one stem or stalk being allowed to grow in each case. The first tying of 

 the stem to the wire was made July 20, the plants having been set June 1. 

 Probably earlier attention should have been given to this. Thereafter the 

 plants were tied every week or two, as occasion required, but this atten- 

 tion was not arduous. Other plants of same age and variety were set 

 along side, 4x4 feet apart, for comparison. 



Table XXI. — Single-stem training. 



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

 plants gave earliest results, averaging 1.08 lbs. to the plant up to the last 

 of August, against 1.04 lbs. 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 (4 lbs. as to 9 lbs.) 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 pro- 

 duced. Both last year and this we found less fruit-rot upon the trained 

 plots than upon others. We feel safe in recommending single-stem train- 



