228 PICTURING MIRACLES 



crop below the six-foot level was ripe. Each plant 

 was tied to a small iron pipe and each colorful clus- 

 ter contained six or seven luscious tomatoes and had 

 to be tied up as their weight would have broken 

 them from their stems. 



A record of each vine was kept, and was found to 

 have produced from seventeen to twenty-five pounds 

 each, continuing production until they were a year 

 old, the vines then being over twenty-five feet long, 

 growing across the ceiling of the greenhouse. At this 

 rate of production and at the winter wholesale price 

 of fifteen cents a pound, an acre would yield $50,000. 

 At this time the retail price was twenty-five to thirty 

 cents a pound and these soilless products were far 

 better than imports in flavor, size, and firmness. 

 Prof. Gericke had not at this time (1934-35) pub- 

 lished his exact findings or formulae. 



He had, at this same time, tobacco twelve feet high 

 with twice the usual yield; his cucumbers were no 

 better than mine, which I consider a failure as they 

 were no better than others grown in soil and same 

 climate, that of Berkeley being too cool for success- 

 ful production of them. 



The tanks may be of wood, or wood sprayed with 

 cement. If of iron, the iron rust will be beneficial 

 though galvanized iron should not be used. Tanks 

 should not be painted on the inside, there form- 



