THE UNDOUBTED STRENGTH OF STOKESCROSS STRAINS 



Our Stokescross tomatoes are the Fos, or 2nd 

 generation of the hybrid. Innumerable tests have 

 shown these to reflect a hybrid vigor that is very 

 close to the Fis. The clear advantage is that they 

 set early and more readily than the standards. 

 Their harvest season is lengthened. Again we 

 refer you to the charts on page 3. You will find 

 two FoS listed. Each leads in a field of winners 

 in the official 1954 Indiana trials. This experience 

 has been duplicated in several states. One grower 

 who has leaned heavily on Stokescross has grossed 

 over $1000. per acre. 



OUR WINTER PROVING GROUNDS IN CUBA. 



For the 5th consecutive year, we are holding 

 winter trials in the Province of Santa Clara some 

 200 miles East of Havana. These trials afford two 

 readings per year. They have advanced our hy- 

 brid program, and our selection of standards, and 

 without question have strengthened our judg- 

 ment and opinions. 



This February 25th report is published too 

 soon to give any detailed Cuban news. 79 strains 

 are under test, some standards, some FiS, some 

 Fos. Most of these will be on trial at our Vin- 

 centown Proving Ground. Our customers and 

 friends are invited to see this work in August. 



February temperatures in Cuba average in 

 the 70s. The top soil with a depth of 24 inches has 

 a pH. of 7.5. The rainfall of February aver- 

 ages about 4 inches. So far this year Late Blight 

 has not been serious, but the Trade Winds blow- 

 ing in from Caibarien are a constant threat and 

 require a rigid spray schedule once a week. Un- 

 fortunately, the Cuban industry has lost heavily 

 from Late Blight for lack of spraying equipment. 



WHAT WILL THE NEW VARIETIES BRING? 



As Harlan Hatfield, new chairman of the In- 

 diana Fieldman's Committee said, "We need a 

 lot of work on the new varieties." This work has 

 been under way a long time. Every state is crying 

 out for a new tomato. Many competent breeders 

 are approaching the final work-out of their ef- 

 forts. Locally, these hold great promise. Home- 

 stead No. 2 for Florida, Chesapeake for Maryland, 

 Texto No. 3 for the Rio Grande Valley and the 

 Winter Garden, Pollack's STEP 128 for the hy- 

 brid men, many others- But will these have the 

 wide adaptability of Schermerhorn's amazing 

 Rutgers? Will they stand up under the country 

 wide tests? We will report later on some of the 

 new stocks in our Cuban trials. In the meantime, 

 please do not ask us for samples as they are still 

 in the testing stage. As of now we would point 

 out that resistance to cracking and resistance to 

 Fusarium Wilt are factors that are being worked 

 on the hardest. Each is costing the industry some 

 $25 million per year. 



SECOND GENERATION OF THE HYBRID 

 WILL NOW BE CALLED Fg. 



Mr. W. A. Davidson, Chief, Seed Branch, U. S. 

 D. A. has made it clear that the word hybrid 

 must refer specifically to seed produced from 

 fruit of the actual cross. Reference to 2nd gen- 

 eration hybrids is out. The term F2 will, there- 

 fore, be used by our company. Will our custom- 

 ers please note this- Stokescross strains will 

 hereafter be referred to as Fos and not as Fa 

 hybrids. 



We, of course, will promptly comply with Mr. 

 Davidson's request. Our Stokescross strains are 

 FqS. On the contrary. Banjo, a true Fi, will be 

 referred to as Banjo Hybrid. 



IS IRRIGATION HERE FOR TOMATOES? 



"You bet it is" says Prof. Williams of Purdue. 



Irrigation will produce better quality fruit. 

 His chart showed Stokesdale without irrigation 

 at 500 bu. per acre, but with 1-inch per week, 

 800 bu. 



Michigan State reported irrigation increased 

 yields 60%. 



Delaware Experiment Station has very sim- 

 ilar data. 



Go to a reliable supplier who has a com- 

 petent engineering staff. There are several man- 

 ufacturers of sprinklers and pipes, be sure you 

 get the best. 



Send to Penn State for Bulletin 562 on irri- 

 gation (Jan. 1953). 



Irrigation is not an emergency measure, plan 

 for it. Be sure you have: 



1. Adequate water supply. 



2. Well designed system. 



3. Adequate measurement of your soil 

 moisture. 



We recommend the Buoyoucus soil moisture 

 blocks, sold by Michigan Wood & Metal Products 

 Co., Bloomfield Hill, Michigan. Place at least one 

 block per acre at varying depths 4", 8", 12", or 

 deeper. Tomato roots are over 4 feet deep. Aim 

 for the equivalent of 1" per week but do not go 

 overboard. IV2' per week is too much. The cost 

 of your water pressure determines most of the 

 cost. 



Several Indiana Stations contributed to this 

 data: Figuring a drought period as 2 weeks or 

 longer without rain: 



20 times in 10 years — 2 weeks duration 

 10 times in 10 years — 3 weeks duration 

 5 times in 10 years — 4 weeks duration 

 2 or 3 times in 10 years — 5 weeks duration 

 1 time in 10 years — 70 days or longer. 



