202 



TOMATOES 



They found not only that there was a difference in the 

 actual yield, but that there was also a difference in the earli- 

 ness of the tomatoes, not only with Stone, but with other 

 kinds. They found also that there was a difference in the 

 color and a difference in the characteristic growth of the vine 

 as well. One firm sold seed of a certain variety that pro- 

 duced a very rank growing vine of a lighter color and differ- 

 ent shape from the same sort bought of a neighboring seeds- 

 man. I wish I could give you some data regarding the men 

 who produce these higher yielding strains of seed, but I can- 

 not. 



The Indiana Experiment Station demonstrated by trials 

 that probably the best seed came from Michigan. However, 

 it is possible for people in New York State to produce their 

 own seed, and there is no reason why a man cannot save his 

 own seed, improving them by selection, in that way increas- 

 ing the yields per acre. 



Not only was there a difference between strains of seed, 

 but there was a difference between varieties. I find in 

 traveling through the canning sections that the majority of 

 the men are talking Chalk's Early Jewel. I find in some 

 cases they are using Earliana, a few Bonny Best, probably 

 for the late season work the Stone. In tests running through 

 three years in a western experiment station, they found 

 that Chalk's Early Jewel stood fourth in the list. Greater 

 Baltimore was the leader, yielding at the rate of six and 

 three-quarters tons to the acre. 



In this test they discarded such varieties as Globe, Magnus, 

 Prosperity, as being of very little value for the man who 

 wished to make money from tomato growing. However, 

 they did say that these other varieties may be of interest to 

 people who have home gardens. You will see, then, that the 

 results with the tomato crop, as far as tests are concerned, 

 are practically the same as those given last year for the cab- 

 bage crop. There is wide variation in seeds from different 

 seedsmen, there is wide variation in varieties. But after all, 

 each grower can produce and should produce seed that will 

 yield more than that of some of his neighbors who purchase 

 their seed. 



