FORCING TOMATOES 



THE forcing of tomatoes for commer- 

 cial purposes has been receiving con- 

 siderable attention in different sections of 

 Ontario during the past few seasons and an 

 increasing demand is causing the growers 

 to erect greenhouses each year. As the 

 best market is found during the Christmas 

 holidays and from then until Easter a 

 special eft'ort is made to have the crop ripe 

 shortly before Christmas. 



In Bulletin No. 231, Cornell University, 

 Ithaca, New York, matters in connection 

 with forcing tomatoes are dealt with by 

 Professors Craig and Hunn. It is of the 

 utmost importance that a suitable size and 

 perfect shape be obtained. Sales are 

 usually made at a high price and the con- 

 sumer orders a definite number of fruits 

 rather than a specific weight. • Tomatoes 

 of irregular shape are vmattractive, and if 

 large the cost would be too high, as they are 

 served one to each individual. Therefore, 

 it is necessary to have them of moderate 

 size and as uniform as possible. 



After four years testing at Cornell, sev- 

 eral varieties have been found which are 

 adapted to forcing. The characteristics 

 mentioned as being desirable are : slow 

 stocky growth ; healthy, but not heavy foli- 

 age ; a habit of forming the first cluster of 

 buds near the base of the plant and a pro- 

 truding stigma capable of setting fruit with 

 a minimum amount of pollen. 



BEST VARIETIES FOR FORCING. 



In many respects the English types of to- 

 matoes have proved to be far superior to 

 those of American origin. They set fruit 

 more readily in dark weather ; they grow 

 the fruit in clusters, ripening the full clus- 

 ter within a short period, and they continue 

 growing considerably longer. Among the 

 most satisfactory American varieties are 

 Lorillard. Mayflower, Combination and 

 Pepper. For general midwinter forcing 

 Lorillard and Combination (American), and 



Frogmore and Holmes' Supreme (English) 

 are mentioned as being thfe four best. 



Too copious watering before dull weather 

 brought on a yellowing and spotting of the 

 leaves which considerably checked the 

 growth. The White Fly caused trouble, but 

 was controlled by fumigation with hydro 

 cyanic acid gas, using potassium cyanide 

 98 per cent, strength and a 66 per cent, solu- 

 tion of sulphuric acid with a small quantity 

 of water. Experiments with difit'erent 

 strengths and under different conditions 

 showed that damage was done when the 

 fumigation took place in daylight or when 

 the houses were very damp. Safe condi- 

 tions are stated as absolute darkness, a still 

 air, a temperature below 60 degrees, and a 

 dry house. Fumigation once each month 

 with one ounce of potassium cyanide, two 

 ounces of sulphuric acid and four ounces of 

 water to each 1,000 cubic feet of house 

 space will keep dow^n the fly. Great care 

 should be exercised in using this gas as it is 

 sure death to all animal life. 



In different parts of Ontario growers 

 force a few for the winter market. " I like 

 to have a few tomatoes ready for market be- 

 fore Christmas," said Air. Jas. Gibbard, of 

 Doncaster, to The Horticulturist recently. 

 " The seed is started outside and as soon as 

 the plants are large enough to handle I set 

 individual plants in old strawberry boxes. 

 By August they are about six inches high, 

 and early in that month I transfer them to 

 the greenhouse. 



" I prefer planting them on ground 

 benches in about eight inches of rich soil 

 made from sod and well rotted manure pre- 

 pared the previous fall. As soon as the 

 plants begin to lop over I string them up. 

 Some stake them with laths, but I find the 

 stringing much less expensive. 



" All side shoots must be kept nipped off, 

 leaving only the terminal. If this is not 

 done there would be too much top for the 



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