TOMATOES 



207 



thirty pounds nitrate of soda, two hundred fifty pounds high 

 grade tankage, analyzing eight per cent, nitrogen, or one 

 hundred fifty pounds dried blood, fourteen hundred thirty 

 pounds acid phosphate, and two hundred fifty pounds sul- 

 phate of potash. They wanted to determine exactly how 

 much was necessary per acre. So they tried different 

 amounts. They tried first two hundred fifty pounds to the 

 acre, then five hundred, then a thousand, then a ton. They 

 found in each case that five hundred pounds per acre was the 

 amount to apply if they wished to get results of the highest 

 profit and the most economically. Two hundred fifty pounds 

 gave very little profit per acre, one thousand very little more 

 than five hundred, and two thousand really gave less than the 

 five hundred. 



Mr. Coleman: Is that when you depend on commercial 

 fertilizer entirely? 



Mr. Wilkinson: Yes. In New York State we are not 

 advising a fertilizer of that kind. We are advising a 2-8-10 

 fertilizer, and we are advising growers to use nitrate of soda 

 with a high grade tankage, 8-10, and the acid phosphate and 

 potash for the best results. 



The question is often asked by different men growing 

 tomatoes, is it advisable to place fertilizer in the hill with the 

 plant or to broadcast? From observation and from the ex- 

 perimental data of the different stations throughout the 

 country, I have determined that there is little difference as 

 far as results are concerned. However, if you are situated 

 like the gentleman from Troy (Mr. Coleman), where you 

 wish tomatoes very early and secure a high price for your 

 product, I would prefer to place the fertilizer in the hill with 

 the plant. If growing for the cannery, the season is then 

 longer and the fertilizer may be applied broadcast. 



A Member: I have had best success on a light, gravelly, 

 sandy soil, where they use fertilizer alone, to use five tooth 

 cultivators, driving up the row and setting the plants right 

 in the furrow. We average around ten tons. 



Cultivation. 



Mr. Wilkinson: Tests were carried on which lasted 



