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TOMATOES FOR MARKET AND CANNING 



VARIETIES 



As to varieties, our markets prefer bright red tomatoes. The 

 Earliana is not considered a good shipper, but being very early, it 

 has been more profitable than others. Bonny Best is also very 

 early, round, smooth, and bright red tomatoes, being of much better 

 quality, and a good yielder. Some growers are planting their acreage 

 largely to this variety. For a late tomato for shipping, the Match- 

 less, as grown in our section, is one of the best. This tomato is bright 

 red, smooth, solid, and meaty. It has a thick skin, and does not 

 crack easily. This plant is very thrifty and just about blight proof. 



GROWING FOR CANNING 



In growing tomatoes for canning, almost any good, strong soil 

 that has good drainage, and is well fertilized, mil do. Many acres 

 are grown on heavy soil, which is not suitable for an early crop. 

 Sandy muck has been found very good, and some of our heaviest 

 crops are raised on clay loam. Good seed is just as important with 

 this crop, as well as the early, and all plant growers should get the 

 best seed that money can buy, or grow their own. In saving seed, 

 it is very important to select strong, healthy plants that are true to 

 name, show a tendency to fruit heavily, and are smooth and solid. 

 If earliness is wanted, the first ones to ripen are saved. It is a good 

 plan to stake the plants and save all the tomatoes that are of market- 

 able size. Tomato seed possesses great vitality, and I have sowed it 

 after four or five years and obtained a good stand of plants. Our 

 growers have commenced to realize that good plants go a long way 

 in making a good crop. I might add that not one grower out of ten 

 gives enough space for the growth of good stock plants, when trans- 

 planting in flats, and I had rather pay a long price for good plants, 

 than be obliged to plant the small, spindling things which would not 

 make one good meal for the average potato bug. 



We mark ground for late tomatoes 4x4, which will take 2,722 

 plants to the acre. Most growers use a fertilizer for the late crop 

 analyzing 2-8-10. This has given good results. Plants are taken 

 to the fields in flats, and we use a spade in setting them. The one 

 carrying the spade makes the opening by spading at the cross-mark, 

 pressing the dirt forward. The man or boy carrying the plants 

 places one directly back of the spade, holding it until the spade is 

 withdrawn, and the one carrying the spade presses the soil firmly 



