Division of Botany. 



GEORGE E. STONE. 



TOMATOES UNDER GLASS. 



The forcing of tomatoes for the winter market has been carried on 

 for many years in this state. There is considerable demand for 

 tomatoes during winter and spring and they usually find a ready sale 

 at 20 to 30 cents, or more, per pound in the markets. Tomatoes 

 require about the same conditions as cucumbers. They however 

 suffer less from deficiency of light than cucumbers. Tomatoes 

 require night temperatures ranging from 60° to 65° F. and day temper- 

 atures from 80° to 85^^ F.; and an even higher temperature in strong 

 sunshine is desirable. A tomato house should be well lighted and 

 possess good facilities for ventilation. As is the case with other 

 crops, during periods of cloudy weather lower temperatures should be 

 maintained and less water is necessary. The house should be kept 

 tolerably moist. If, however, there is any danger from infection with 

 Mildew (Cladosporium fulvum) the moisture should be reduced. 

 This fungus can be held in check by maintaining tolerably dry con- 

 ditions in the house and by keeping moisture from the foliage. 



SOIL AND FERTILIZERS. 



Tomatoes, unlike lettuce, do not appear to be susceptible to slight 

 variations in soil texture. Soil suitable for the production of other 

 market garden crops under glass is well adapted to tomatoes. A 

 soil made by mixing decomposed sod, loam and horse manure in about 

 equal parts furnishes a good foundation for a tomato soil. This soil 

 can be used over and over again if well supplied with horse manure 

 each year. Although a very limited amount of commercial fertilizers 

 is applied to greenhouse crops in this state, tomatoes respond quickly 

 and are appreciably stimulated by their use according to our obser- 

 vations on plants grown in fairly rich soil in pots. There is nothing, 

 however, that appears to be superior to horse manure in the 

 growing of market garden crops, — an idea long maintained and put 



