Tomato Notes 



399 



Following are summary conclusions respecting the field culti- 

 vation of tomatoes as derived from six years^ experiment (Bull. 

 32, Cornell Exp. Sta.): 



^^Fertilizing. — Very heavy fertilizing with stable manures or 

 concentrated fertilizers has uniformly increased yield in our ex- 

 periments, although the common opinion is to the contrary. But 

 in order that fertilizing shall produce early fruits, the food mate- 

 rials must be quickly available. If stable manure is desired, only 

 the most thoroughly disintegrated part should be used. Nitrate 

 of soda is a good tomato fertilizer on soils containing abundance 

 of potash and phosphoric acid, but like other incomplete fertiliz- 

 ers it has little value when used alone on poor soils. Nitrate of 

 soda appears to give heaviest yields when used in two or three 

 applications, but in this latitude it should not be applied later 

 than the first of August, else it prolongs growth too late. 



" There appear to be differences in varieties as to the readiness 

 with which they respond to fertilizing. In our tests of 1891, un- 

 improved or Cherry tomatoes, while showing a less increase in 

 number of fruits than the large varieties under heavy fertilizing, 

 suffered no loss in size of fruits and consequently gave a greater 

 proportionate crop. 



"In 1889, tests indicated that poor soil may tend to render 

 fruits more angular. [Probably due to the dryness of the poor 

 soil.] 



Starting the PlantSj Transplanting j etc. — Frequent trans- 

 planting of the young plants and good tillage are necessary to 

 best results in tomato culture in this latitude. 



"Plants started under glass about ten weeks before transplant- 

 ing into field gave fruits from a week to ten days earlier than 

 those started two or three weeks later, while there was a much 

 greater difference when the plants were started six weeks later. 

 Productiveness is greatly increased by the early planting. 



"Very early setting of stocky plants in the field, even in dark 

 and raw weather, augmented earliness and productiveness in 1890. 

 This year [1891] the same results were secured except that there 

 was less gain in earliness from very early setting. The tomato 

 can endure. much more uncongenial weather when set in the fieldl 



