NOTES ON SOIL-MANAGEMENT FOR TOMATOES 



THE problem of the relation of soil to Tomato-growth is 

 one of the most intricate that a grower has to face. He 

 can no longer spread an occasional load of manure and 

 leave the rest to nature. Although that worked when manure 

 was plentiful and Tomato acreage small, today's extensive 

 agriculture depletes our soils so rapidly that manure alone 

 cannot keep them fit. Every grower ought to maintain his 

 soil at least at the fertility level at which he finds it. Many 

 find it profitable to raise the level considerably. 



Plants need, in the first place, water and air. If both are to 

 be present in the soil in proper quantities there must be enough 

 humus or decayed organic matter to regulate the physical 

 condition. Sandy soils containing humus will retain more 

 water, while heavy soils, on the other hand, will drain better 

 if humus is present. This equalizing effect on the water supply 

 has its indirect effect on aeration, for soils that do not puddle 

 contain enough air for plant-roots. That is why progressive 

 farmers conserve organic matter. Hester* suggests a minimum 

 content of 1 per cent in sands, 1 per cent in sandy loams, and 

 2 per cent in loams. Manure is an excellent source, but next 

 best is a green-manuring program. Crop-rotation and the 

 turning under of vegetation will keep soil organic matter 

 high. Your county agricultural agent knows particular rota- 

 tions suited to your region. 



Among the nutrients plants need, nitrogen rates high in 

 importance. The quantity carried by organic matter is usually 

 insufficient and its form unavailable. During the second and 

 third months after transplanting. Tomato plants need nitrogen 

 in larger quantities than the soil can supply it. Since nitrogen- 

 carrying fertilizers in the soil at transplanting time can be 

 injurious, and since much leaches away before the plant needs 

 it, nitrogen should be side dressed. 



Phosphorus is the element which is most commonly deficient 

 in soils. Tomatoes respond favorably to large quantities of 

 superphosphate. Mixed with the soil, it will not injure young 

 plants. Apply it before or at transplanting time, for the plant 

 uses it immediately. 



Potassium is the third important chemical fertilizer com- 

 monly added to the soil. It resembles nitrogen in that large 

 quantities in the soil at setting-time injure the plants. Toma- 



*Dr. Jackson B. Hester in Campbell Soup Co. Bulletin 1, "The Soil Side 

 of Tomato Growing.' 



toes do not use it until the second and third months after 

 transplanting. 



We therefore suggest that in applying your fertilizer this 

 year you use an analysis such as 0-16-0 or 2-16-0 at plant- 

 setting time and 10-0-15 as a side dressing, four weeks, and 

 again, eight weeks after transplanting. The quantities vary 

 in different regions. In New Jersey the most successful grow- 

 ers use 1000 pounds 0-16-0 and two side dressings — 400 

 pounds per acre each — of 10-0-15. We urge those who think 

 this procedure too costly to try it on a few plants. 



There is much talk about the need of other elements such 

 as boron, copper, manganese, and zinc. The soils where these 

 are deficient are so limited in area that it is not wise for most 

 farmers to buy fertilizers containing them. An excess might 

 be injurious. 



There are two more elements, calcium and magnesium, 

 which are often added to soils. These are usually called soil 

 amendments rather than fertilizers. The reason is that their 

 chief use is in changing soil acidity, although plants use them 

 in small quantities. Their addition to the soil as lime produces 

 a chemical condition which helps the plant obtain other ele- 

 ments, especially phosphorus. Since a pH of between 6. and 

 7. is the best acidity for Tomatoes, most of our soils are too 

 acid. That means that, generally, lime helps. Do not lime 

 your soil unless a test shows it is needed, for an excess is more 

 harmful than a deficiency. 



The whole problem of soil-management is more complicated 

 than this brief survey indicates. We have ignored entirely the 

 beneficial effects of bacteria and hormones present in manure 

 which cannot be supplied in any other way. We have like- 

 wise neglected the effects of different tillage methods, and the 

 whole problem of what compounds of the fertilizer elements 

 to use. Soils may influence such widely different properties 

 as disease-resistance and market quality besides the general- 

 yield factors. Lastly, all the work on which these suggestions 

 are based was done on varieties Rutgers and Marglobe. Other 

 varieties have different needs. 



In view of the complexity of factors involved, we suggest 

 that you write us your special soil problems. We need the 

 cooperation of our customers in determining the important 

 fields for further research. 



SUGGESTED CONTROLS FOR TOMATO DISEASES 



WHEN we consider the three dozen or more diseases 

 that can harm Tomatoes it seems incredible that any 

 Tomato plant survives. Fortunately, most of them are 

 not so serious that we cannot control them. 



Our Company has eliminated entirely one source of infec- 

 tion — the seed. All of Stokes Certified Seed is grown on plots 

 inspected by state departments of agriculture and pronounced 

 free from any serious infection. In addition, all Certified Seed 

 of our varieties Master Marglobe, Rutgers, Stokesdale, and 



Valiant has been dipped in 

 ^jHiiiMiiiipBBBi j| ^ solution of New Improved 

 JKf^ 1 Ceresan ^ethyl mercury phos- 



— ^ phate/. We are thus in a position 



wjwnaHHMBHH to furnish seed which is absolutely 



*jy[J]ij|l]y[jJ|!l3Jj clean. If our growers use disease- 



free seed-beds and practice rota- 

 tion and clean culture in the field, 

 the most serious diseases will be 

 under control. 



There are, however, some diseases for which"added precau- 

 tions must be taken. The fungus causing fusarium wilt, for 

 instance, persists despite all sanitation and rotation. If you 

 live in an area in which soils are wilt-sick, use the resistant 

 varieties Rutgers, Marglobe, or Pritchard. 



Every Tomato patch contains plants damaged by one or 

 both of the leaf-spots. They spread with dew or rain. Although 

 the damage can be reduced by copper sprays, most farmers 

 feel that the cost of the spray offsets the increase in yield. Ac- 

 cording to some recent work, bordeaux mixture injures young 

 blossoms so that farmers who use copper might try some of the 

 other compounds on the market. Since much of this work is 

 still experimental, it is best to follow the example of your 

 most successful neighbors. In some regions this means the use 

 of copper, while in others it means forgetting the leaf-spot. 



There are several field diseases which occur in greenhouses 

 or in market Tomatoes. Most of these disappear when proper 

 sanitation and care are practiced. 



Mosaic, which causes blotched leaves and stunted plants, is caused by a virus carried in the plant- 

 juice. It may spread from weeds, potatoes, and certain other crops to the clothes of workers. Tobacco 

 used by workers will also introduce it. Since it is most serious when introduced to the seed-bed, a little 

 care in the exclusion of weeds, plant debris, and tobacco from the bed will reduce losses. 



Physiological troubles, such as blossom-end rot, puff, crack, and scald, are difficult to handle because 

 we do not know all the factors responsible. Much work is yet to be done in this field. 



This tamper-proof canister 

 identifies the genuine Stokes 

 produrts. It is one of the 

 most respected seed pack- 

 ages in North America, 



We have in process of preparation a series of leaflets summarizing the latest recommendations for 

 control of each of the important Tomato diseases. An annual revision will incorporate the results of 

 recent research. 



