238 BOOKS AND 



< 



— for the canneries and for market — cannot fall short of 

 ^1,000,000 annually. This takes no account of what is 

 grown in a general way for local markets and home 

 consumption. " 



" A matter of cultural importance, to which attention 

 is here called, is that of transplanting the plants instead 

 of permitting them to grow without 

 Tomatoes in disturbance from seed until put out in 

 Virginia. the field. The large number required 



for the extensive areas cultivated by 

 the packers make this a formidable task, but at least 

 one transplanting will prove decidedly profitable to 

 them in the vigor and productiveness of the resultant 

 plants. With experience, men acquire dexterity in the 

 handling of small plants, and the labor is not so formid- 

 able as it at first appears. Some growers do practice 

 transplanting, but others do not. " 



"The special value of a variety of tomato for the 

 large canning industry of this state and for market pur- 

 poses must lie in its being a strong, vigorous grower, 

 productive, yielding fruit of good size 

 Ideal Canning and smoothness, reasonably early, 

 Tomato. carrying its fruit through a good 



length of season without its deterior- 

 ating in quality, and (if this character can be had in the 

 larger varieties of the tomato) freedom from fungous 

 diseases. Observation leads to the belief that this lat- 

 ter characteristic in the large fruited sorts is more de- 

 pendent upon season, situation and culture than upon 

 variety. Further, solidity, i. f., firmness and capacity to 

 stand up well under shipment and other handling opera, 

 tions, is a character of prime importance, but one on 

 which judgment is not easily rendered. In general, this 

 point includes both firmness and keeping quality, which 

 are by no means identical and are possessed in diflerent 

 degrees by different varieties," 



" Some plants of Paragon did well, but it seemed on 

 th^ decline. This was also very noticeable of some 

 plants of Beauty, but on the whole, this 

 Varieties of variety yielded some of the finest fruits 

 Tomatoes. grown on the trial ground. Acme fully 

 sustained its reputation as one of the 

 best all-round sorts. The crop was uniform and of fine 

 quality, yet was somewhat more afiected by the rot than 

 some others. The purplish color of this variety may 

 be objectionable to some, yet there are none can be so 

 warmly recommended for general culture. Conqueror 

 and Comet show the heaviest yields, but have little else 

 of merit. They bore very abundant crops, but the 

 fruits were small, and, after the first pickings, degene- 

 rated rapidly in quality. Dwarf Champion, one of the 

 prominent novelties for the last two seasons, was noj 

 productive (one of the plants being entirely sterile, 

 though it grew and bloomed vigorously). The fruits 

 are of fine shape, color resembling the Acme, plant not 

 quite strong enough to bear its fruit free from the 

 ground. The indications are that it requires high cul- 

 ture and will be valuable as an amateur sort, but not for 

 general culture. 



BULLETINS. 



Extra Early is a very prolific early sort, but the fruits 

 are small and not of extra quality. Lorillard is a new 

 variety of some promise. The fruits are of good size, 

 fairly smooth, of fine crimson color , but for general 

 culture it does not surpass some of the best previously 

 mentioned. It is of Trophy type, and recommended as 

 a forcing variety. Mikado is one of the best of the 

 potato-leaved sorts, but there is some difference in stock 

 of seed as to productiveness and character of fruit. 

 This was plainly indicated in the test here the past sea- 

 son. Selection has been taken with a view to establish- 

 ing a better type of this variety. It has a small growth 

 of vine, hence can be planted closely, and is very sus- 

 ceptible to trellising. This variety produced some of 

 the largest fruits grown here the past season. Shah is 

 quite similar to Mikado in growth and general appear- 

 ance, but its color is yellow." 



In nine varieties the per cent, of water in the fruit was 

 found to be, on the average, 93.63. 

 The fertilizing value of 3,938 lbs. of Composition 

 tomato vines — the estimated produce of Tomatoes, 

 of an acre — was found to be as follows : 



Fertilizing: Ingfedients. Weight. Valued at 



Nitrogen 12.95 'bs. $1.94 



Phosphoiic acid 3.40 " .24 



Potash 24.14 " 1.20 



Total value of fertilizing iriKredients . . $3.38 



" A question just here of practical importance should 

 not be overlooked by growers. It is that the vines 

 should not be allowed to decay in the open air, as in this 

 way a large part of the nitrogen they contain, and 

 which is their most valuable fertilizing ingredient, 

 would escape, in the form of ammonia, into the sur- 

 rounding atmosphere. The same thing would occur 

 should the vines, after becoming sufficiently dry, be 

 burned. This is a practice that has been recommended 

 in order to destroy the germs of fungous diseases that 

 affect the tomato. By plowing under, the same end 

 will be attained without loss of nitrogen. In the case 

 of a heavy clay soii, this would also have the effect of 

 loosening the soil, securing a better tilth and more rapid 

 decomposition of organic and mineral matters in the 

 soil." 



Bulletin No. 63, New Jersey Experiment Station. 

 Expc'ri/iiciiis on Tomatoes . By Edward B. 

 Voorhees. Pp . S'] . " It is estimated that the Tomatoes 

 consumption of tomatoes has increased in Jersey, 

 four-fold in the last ten years. The soil 

 and climate of New Jersey are well adapted to the growth 

 of this crop, and it now forms an important farming in- 

 dustry of the state. There are in this state, 73 tomato 

 canneries, located chiefly in counties south of Middlesex. 

 Statistics secured by this station from both canners and 

 farmers show that at least 15,000 acres are devoted to 

 the raising of tomatoes for these canneries : that the av- 

 erage yield per acre is from 8 to 10 tons, with a minimum 

 selling price of $6.50 per ton, delivered at the canneries. 

 Statistics secured in regard to the raising of tomatoes for 



