TOMATO 285 



likely to occur during the winter months when there is so 

 much dark, cloudy weather. During the bright spring 

 and warm summer weather an enormous amount of 

 water can be applied without danger of injury. At this 

 season of the year it may be necessary to water daily or 

 even twice a day under certain conditions. 



The method of watering should have careful considera- 

 tion. Watering has a very close relation to the question 

 of pollination. (Page 288.) A dry atmosphere is most 

 favorable to the discharge of pollen and the setting of a 

 maximum number of fruits. It is also important to pro- 

 tect the flowers from water, which may wash away the 

 pollen grains and thus result in a small setting of fruit. 

 The foliage, too, when it becomes wet, is more sus- 

 ceptible to fungous diseases of various kinds. Overhead 

 watering is used to a considerable extent in growing 

 tomatoes, but it is readily seen that the arguments are in 

 favor of applying water with a hose, care being taken to 

 keep the plants as dry as possible. From the standpoint 

 of saving labor, avoiding diseases and securing a heavy 

 crop of fruit, sub-irrigation seems to possess special ad- 

 vantages. Experiments made by Waid in a two-year test 

 on raised benches at the Ohio station gave the following 

 results : 



"With two houses, each having 960 square feet of bench space 

 planted to tomatoes and both treated alike except in the manner of 

 watering, the sub-irrigated house would yield, calculating the yield 

 according to the above table, 330 pounds more of tomatoes than the 

 surface-watered house. The surface-watered house would give, on 

 the other hand, 168 pounds more of fruit affected by rot than the 

 sub-irrigated house." 



Temperature. The night temperature for tomatoes 

 should never be lower than 60 degrees, and the tempera- 



