Il8 TOMATO CULTURE 



300 to 800 bushels an acre can be expected. I have 

 known of many larger ones. 



A large proportion of the tomatoes grown for can- 

 ning are planted under contract, by which the farmer 

 agrees to deliver the entire yield of fruit fit for can- 

 ning, which may be produced on a given area, at the 

 contract price per bushel or ton. The canner is to 

 judge what fruit is fit for canning and this often re- 

 sults in great dissatisfaction. To the grower it seems 

 in many cases as though the quantity of acceptable 

 fruit paid for was determined quite as much by the 

 abundance or scarcity of the general crop as by the 

 weight hauled to the factory. The prices paid by the 

 factories for the past 10 years run from 10 to 25 cents 

 a bushel, while canning tomatoes in the open market 

 for the same period have brought from 8 to 50 cents 

 a bushel, which, however, are exceptional prices. In 

 all but two of the past 10 years uncontracted tomatoes 

 could generally be sold, in most sections, for more than 

 was paid on contract. I have given the price a bushel, 

 though canning tomatoes are usually sold by the ton. 

 The cost of the product of a well-equipped cannery 

 is divided about as follows : fruit, 30 pef cent. ; hand- 

 ling, preparing and processing the fruit, 18 per cent. ; 

 cost of cans, labels, cases, etc., 43 per cent. ; labeling, 

 packing and selling, 0.035 P^^ cent. ; incidentals, 0.055 

 per cent. 



Canning on the farm. — While as a general propo- 

 sition such work as canning tomatoes can usually be 

 done at less cost in a central plant, yet in many cases 

 the grower can profitably do this on the farm, thus 

 saving not only the expense of delivery at the factory, 



