We strongly urge that all tomato growers plan a long-time build-up of organic 

 matter in their soil. This can be accomplished by constant plowing down of green 

 manures. We recommend that tomato fields be thoroughly tested by a competent 

 soils laboratory four months before planting, and that they be tested twice after 

 planting at intervals of 30 to 60 days. This is especially important to determine 

 whether there has been a loss of elements through leaching by heavy rains. Light 

 sandy soils usually show a greater loss than clay or heavy loam soils. 



In taking your soil samples ascertain if there is a hardpan at the plowsole or lower. 

 It is quite possible that a chisel plow, or a sub-soiler will greatly benefit your 

 whole soil structure. Keep in mind that the roots of a tomato plant will penetrate 

 to a depth of 4 to 6 feet under optimal conditions. 



STEADILY 



Most tomato fields are under-fed, but your soils 

 laboratory report will show you what the fer- 

 tilizer formula should be, the quantity required, 

 and how to apply it. Generally speaking, we 

 recommend from 1500 to 3000 pounds per acre. 

 Part of this should be applied before or at the 

 time of setting, and part should be added with 

 each cultivation. Be alert to deficiency signs. 

 Generally there is more danger of under-feeding 

 than over-feeding. Do not deliberately over-feed 

 until the main fruit setting time is past. 



A tomato is composed of more than 92% water. 

 In prolonged drought, especially in cases where 

 the root development is not at its full depth, a 

 tomato can lose from one to two ounces in 

 weight. We have records of Stokesdale producing 

 14.1 tons per acre on non-irrigated land, and 

 adjacent to it, 19.5 tons per acre under irrigation, 

 an increase of 5.4 tons. A rough measurement of 

 water requirements indicates that one inch rain- 

 fall per week or its equivalent in irrigation is 

 optimum. Many of our customers will, of course, 

 tell us it is impossible to irrigate. The first cost 

 may be high for irrigating equipment, but if the 

 yield of a crop can be increased up to 30%, no 

 one will question that it is a subject worthy of 

 your best thought. 



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