22 TOMATO CULTURE 



much less than it would be with better cultural man- 

 agement. The tomato under conditions which I have 

 repeatedly found it practicable to secure, not only in 

 small plantings but in large fields, has proved capable 

 of producing from i,ooo to- 1,200 or even more bush- 

 els to the acre, and the possible yield per plant is 

 enormous. 



As early as 18 18 the Royal Horticultural Society 

 of London reports the obtaining of over 40 pounds 

 of fruit of marketable character from a single vine. 

 An acre of such plants would give a yield of over 

 1,800 bushels of fruit, and many similar yields, and 

 even greater ones, have been recorded for single 

 plants. The yield commonly obtained, even in favor- 

 able locations, and by men who have grown tomatoes 

 all their lives, is more often less than 200 bushels to 

 the acre than more. The way to secure a better yield 

 is to study carefully the nature and requirements of 

 the plants and the adaptation of our cultural practice 

 to them. 



Life habit of the plant. — The tomato could be de- 

 scribed as a short-lived perennial, but its span of life 

 is somewhat variable. Under favorable conditions 

 it will develop from starting seed to first ripe fruit 

 in from 85 to 120 days of full sunshine with a con- 

 stant day temperature of from 75 to 90° F., and with 

 one from 15 to 20° F. lower at night. The plants will 

 ordinarily continue in full fruit for about 50 to 60 

 days, after which they generally become so exhausted 

 by excessive production of fruit and the effects of 

 diseases to which they are usually subject that their 

 root action and sap circulation become weaker and 



