APPENDIX. 143 



2. Value of Pot CnJlure: — The importance of careful handling 

 of tomato plants has previously been emphasized by the writer. 

 During the past season a test was made as to the value of growing 

 plants in pots previous to setting in the field. Twelve plants of 

 each of four varieties were transferred from the seed flats to thumb- 

 pots, later to 3-inch, and then to 4-inch pots, and to the field -Tune 

 1st. Duplicate lots were handled in boxes in the ordinary manner 

 on the same dates. 



In ever}^ instance the plants handled in pots produced a larger 

 number of fruits and a greater total weight of the product than 

 those from boxes ; but the individual fruits were slightly smaller. 



Computing the yield per acre on the basis of the weight of fruit 

 picked previous to October 1st, and considering the plants placed 

 five feet apart each way, we found for the first three varieties, a 

 difference of more than 29 bushels each, in favor of the pot grown 

 plants. This difference at 75 cts. per bushel, (none of our fruit 

 sold for less than 60 cts. per bushel, and early in the season we 

 received SI. 75 at wholesale,) would amount to §21.83 per acre, a 

 sum far in excess of the cost of pots and expense of handling. 



Conclusion ; — There appears to be a marked increase in the pro- 

 ductiveness of plants handled in pots previous to setting in the 

 field. 



3. Individual Variation: — Very often a new variety is recom- 

 mended, or a particular method of culture is advocated, because 

 excellent results have been obtained for a single season. The 

 danger of drawing conclusions from such limited experience, was 

 pointed out by the writer last year, when it was found that "in no 

 case were the results from duplicate tests uniform."* 



Duplicate lots of each of three varieties of tomatoes were grown 

 during the past season. All of these were given the same treat- 

 ment in the house, and were planted side by side in the field, 

 receiving the same culture. The results obtained, bear out our 

 former conclusions to such an extent, that the results of ceitain 

 methods of culture undertaken, are withheld for further verification. 



The weight of individual fruits was practically uniform, but the 

 variation in number of fruits, and in the consequent weight of the 

 product, was very marked. The date of ripening was also variable. 



Conclusion : — The individual variation of plants of any given 

 variety is often such as to obscure any effects of different methods 



* Rep. Maine Exp. Sta. ISW, p. 64. 

 t Rep. Maine Exp. Sta. 1S92, p. 65. 



