The Tomato 



Tomatoes are now grown on a very large scale for can- 

 ning factories. They are then a field crop, and are given 

 no greater care than corn. A rather light warm soil is 

 chosen. Frame-grown plants are used and they may be set 

 with a transplanting machine. Thereafter no special treat- 

 ment is given the crop except to keep the land well tilled. 

 Plants are nsnally spaced 4 feet either way. The yield of 

 the " can-house crop " varies 

 greatly, from 3 tons to 12 and 

 even 14 tons to the acre; 5 to 8 

 tons is a good crop. The legal 

 weight of a bushel of tomatoes 

 runs from 45 to 60 lbs. in dif- 

 ferent States; a yield of 8 tons 

 is 320 bu. at 50 lbs. 



Harvesting is simple with to- 

 matoes. They are hand-picked. 

 Eor a near-by market and home 

 use, they should be picked fully 

 ripe, but for more distant ship- 

 ment when they begin to color 

 well. They are marketed in 

 baskets or crates. If graded and 

 of excellent quality and in- 

 tended for the best market, the _ 



fruits should be wrapped. Early choice fruit is often sold 

 in small splint baskets, like large berry boxes, about four 

 or six baskets being contained in a carrier. 



Kinds. 



Varieties run out or vary, and fashions in tomatoes 

 change frequently. Because the name of an old variety 



153. Detail of leaf of var. 

 commune (X V^)- 



