364 



SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XIV. No. 356 



been in operation upon the steam-boilers at Stevens Institute, and 

 have given perfectly satisfactory results. 



In regard to making the tubes alike, it will be well to state that 

 there has been no difficulty in producing a number in which the 

 deflections were equal for equal pressures, and which have been 

 directly applied to a standard chart, without adjustment. It will 

 be readily seen, that, in case there should be slight differences in 

 the deflections, such differences may be allowed for by raising or 

 lowering the tube with reference to the dial. This is equivalent to 

 shortening or lengthening the deflections along the radial arcs. 

 For an indicating instrument, it is only necessary to provide a 

 graduated arc for the end of the tube to move over. 



It is evident that the instrument is adapted for a vacuum as well 

 as for a pressure-gauge, and it naturally follows, that, if sufficiently 

 sensitive, it will serve as a barometer, and measure changes of at- 

 mospheric pressure. 



The model herewith exhibited for this purpose was made by 

 electro-deposition of nickel upon a piece of solder of the proper 

 form, the solder being afterward melted out in oik The walls of 

 this tube are 5^^ of an inch thick. When this tube is exhausted 

 of air and sealed, as shown, it gives a deflection of about three 

 inches and a half for an external change of pressure of one atmos- 

 phere, o 



Another application of the pressure tube is in the recording 

 thermometer. The tube may be filled with a very expansible 

 liquid, such as alcohol, and sealed. Variations in temperature 

 produce expansion of the enclosed liquid, which, in turn, gives de- 

 flections of the tube to correspond. These deflections maybe used 

 to record directly, without multiplying-devices, as shown in one of 

 the models. 



The tubes of the pressure-gauges to be inspected have been 

 rr\ade by the writer at Stevens Institute, for the purpose of thor- 

 oughly testing the novel form. The results have been perfectly 

 satisfactory, and our recent experience in manufacturing has de- 

 monstrated the possibility of duplicating the tubes in quantities for 

 a standard chart. 



NOTES OF TOMATOES. 



Perhaps the most frequent and noteworthy observation made 

 upon the culture of the tomato during several years of experi- 

 mentation with the plant at the Cornell Agricultural Station has 

 been the great increase in vigor and productiveness which comes 

 from careful handling and good tillage. It often appears as if this 

 vigor is not only characteristic of the immediate generation, but 

 that it is hereditary for a time to a profitable degree. " Handling " 

 or transplanting of young plants, when frequently and properly 

 done, is invaluable ; and, so far as the plant is concerned, three or 

 four transplantings are better than one. In the station work, in 

 order to get the greatest results from tests, the plants are handled 

 in pots, preferably rose-pots, and are transplanted several times. 

 The handling is expeditious, and is not too expensive for the use 

 of any one who grows tomatoes for home use. For market culture 

 they find that two transplantings are usually profitable. Stocky 

 plants, vigorous, and growing rapidly, are better than simply early 

 plants, however ; and frequency of transplanting must not be con- 

 founded with early sowing and consequent necessity for several 

 shiftings. Tomato- plants — or any plants, in fact — should not be 

 shifted for the simple purpose of preventing crowding or "draw- 

 ing." Transplanting serves the purpose of maintaining a steady 

 and symmetrical growth, and it should occur before the plant be- 

 comes checked from neglect. A good tomato-plant at the time of 

 setting in the field, is one which is stocky enough to hold the 

 weight of the earth and pot when a number of plants are grasped 

 in the hand by their tops, and are carried along the rows. They 

 require no staking when set. A tall and weak plant with a blos- 

 som on the top is not considered worth setting. It is a common 

 mistake to set tomato-plants in the field too early. Cold nights, 

 even though several degrees above frost, check the plants, some- 

 times seriously. 



How early the plants should be started for profit is a question 

 which demands attention. A few writers have maintained of late 

 that nothing is gained in earliness and productiveness by early 

 starting under glass. This is undoubtedly true if the early plants 



are not well grown, but the Cornell experience is quite to the con- 

 trary with stocky and vigorous plants. Whether this increase is 

 worth what it costs, is a question which must be answered by 

 every grower for himself. 



In every instance the early-sown plants gave earlier fruits than 

 the others ; and in every case but one, in which the yields were 

 practically the same, the total yield is much greater. The gain in 

 earliness sometimes amounts to three or even four weeks. The dis- 

 advantage of very late planting (middle of May) is particularly pro- . 

 nounced in the results at Cornell, especially in point of productive- 

 ness. This productiveness, however, is really a measure of earli- 

 ness, inasmuch as it simply records the weight of fruit' which had 

 ripened up to Oct. 10, when the tomato season was closed by frost. 

 Could the season have been sufficiently extended, no doubt the 

 ultimate productiveness of the varions plantings would have been 

 the same. 



It is a common notion that soils containing little or no manure 

 are preferable to well-enriched soils for tomato-growing. It is 

 supposed that rich soils tend to make vine at the expense of 

 fruit, causing lateness of maturity and consequent lessening of 

 yield ; and the supposition is prevalent that rich soils tend to make 

 fruits " rougher," or more irregular in shape. A careful test upon 

 these points has been made during the past season at Cornell, with 

 the result that heavy manuring for tomatoes may give decided 

 benefits ; yet it is possible that the character of the soil or season 

 may have much to do with the behavior of the plants under these 

 conditions. 



The manuring of one plat was excessive, but the gain due to the 

 very heavy dressing was not sufficient to pay for the extra cost. 

 But if excessive manuring did not greatly increase yield, neither 

 did it always tend to an unprofitable production of vine at the ex- 

 pense of yield and earliness, as is commonly supposed. 



The tomato is one of the most variable and inconstant of kitchen- 

 garden plants. As a rule, varieties differ but slightly from their 

 allies, and a considerable plantation and a critical eye are needed 

 to determine many of even the common sorts. It is certainly true 

 that at least half of the varieties which have been offered in the 

 last few years are practically the same as other varieties. 



Varieties of tomatoes are as a rule short-lived. Ten years may 

 be considered the average profitable life of a variety, and many 

 sorts break up and disappear in two or three years. This incon- 

 stancy of type is largely due, no doubt, to the haste with which 

 new sorts are put upon the market. 



The demand in tomatoes now calls for fruits which are regular 

 in shape, solid, large, and plants which are productive. The old 

 angular sorts are rapidly disappearing in commercial practice. 

 There has been no gain in earliness for the species for many years, 

 if at all, and little if any need be expected. The cherry and plum 

 sorts, with a few of the angular-fruited and wrinkled-leaved 

 varieties, are still the earliest sorts. Yet comparative earliness be- 

 tween commercial varieties is an important consideration. There 

 is also no gain in capability to resist rot : the cherry, plum, and 

 angular sorts are still most exempt, the cherry and plum varieties 

 entirely so. 



An experiment was undertaken to determine if keeping qualities 

 are correlated with solidity. Representative samples of many 

 varieties, taken so far as possible in the same stage of maturity, 

 were placed together upon a forcing-house table, and the fruits 

 were removed as soon as they began to decay. It was found that 

 some of the frailest varieties kept the longest. It appears, there- 

 fore, that solidity must be measured by a general judgment rather 

 than by any definite expression. This conclusion is quite at vari- 

 ance with common opinion. 



Much has been said concerning the superiority of certain varie- 

 ties for cooking purposes, aside from quality of fruit. There is 

 said to be characteristic differences between varieties in time of 

 cooking and amount of shrinkage. A painstaking cooking test 

 was made with a few varieties, but the results are so variable as to 

 appear to be merely accidental or characteristic of individual fruits. 

 The fruits were cut into thin slices and placed in boiling water. 

 The shrinkages in weight and bulk do not appear to be correlated. 

 In some instances shrinkage was slight, while in other varieties, 

 equally as solid and good, it was great. 



