367 



sens productiveness of the tomato is open to doubt. Excessively 

 manured soil gave nearly twice heavier yields than unfertilized soil, 

 and a third heavier than nitrate of soda treatment. The test was re- 

 peated this year upon the same areas," Muriate of potash, nitrate 

 of soda, stable manure in excessive quantities on rich gardeu soil, and 

 stable manure liberally applied to ordinary garden loam, were compared 

 with each other and with no manure. The results with the stable ma- 

 nure were very much the best and confirmed those of last year. 



It 13 extremely doubtfal, however, if this very heavy mauuriug pays its cost, 

 especially in gross productivoness ; but it is worth while to observe that the individual 

 fruits ou the heavily manured plats averaged more than a half heavier than those 

 on liberally manured garden soil. If tomatoes are profitable in proportion to their 

 size and weight it would appear that the heavy manuring in this case might be 

 commercially profitable. The results obtained with liberal mauuriug under commer- 

 cial conditions, as compared with the figures obtained from no fertilizing and from 

 nitrate and potash treatments, certainly show that good stable manure in abundance 

 can be used profitably. 



The application of stable manure in large quantity to clay land did 

 not secure a profitable crop. This, however, is not attributed to the 

 manure but to the unfitness of such land for tomatoes. 



Early and late settinrj. — "Trials last year showed that early sowing in 

 the North results in increased profitable productiveness." This year 

 the comparative value of early and late setting out of doors has been 

 tested with two lots of Ignotuni plants. One lot was set out of doors 

 May 9 during a cold rain, which was followed by cold and dark weather 

 for several days. For about three weeks the plants made no growth. 

 The other lot was set out June 12, when the weather was warm and 

 settled. "The first ripe fruit was picked from each row the same da^^, 

 August 5. But the late-set plants did not come into full bearing until 

 a mouth later, while the others bore steadily from the first picking." 

 One hundred and forty pounds of fruit were obtained from twelve of 

 the early-set plants and onl^' 30 pounds from the same number of late- 

 set plants. 



Seeds vs. cuUings. — "It is frequently said that plants grown from cut- 

 tings are superior in earliness and sometimes in productiveness to those 

 grown from seeds, and some growers carry over a few stock plants of 

 tomatoes in a greenhouse or conservatory for the purpose of securing 

 spring cuttings." The results from cuttings of Ignotum, Lorillard, and 

 Sunrise tomatoes, as compared with those from seeds of the same varie- 

 ties, are given in tabular form. The seedlings gave the earliest and 

 largest returns. 



Trimming. — " Plants of Potato Leaf, Golden Queen, Volunteer, and 

 Bay State were headed back from 3 to 6 inches on all the leading shoots 

 July 28 and August 25, and all the sprouts from the base of the plants 

 were taken off. In every case there was an important gain in earli- 

 ness and productiveness in favor of the trimmed plants. The labor 

 of trimming is very slight, and it would appear to be profitable." De- 

 tails are given in a table. 

 18447— No. 7 5 



