474 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 30, 
Ruralisms 
Progress With Glasshouse Toma¬ 
toes. —Twelve years ago we grew our 
first Winter tomatoes, using Lorillard 
and Dwarf Champion as the varieties. 
The yield was fair, although the green¬ 
house, to accommodate other plants, 
was run at a temperature much lower 
than is usual for tomatoes, and the con¬ 
struction such as to necessitate thq use 
of boxes or large pots instead of the 
usual raised benches. A cross was 
effected between the two varieties, and 
the best of the resulting offspring, after 
a few seasons of selection, was intro¬ 
duced to commerce under the name of 
Combination. It was a good-sized, 
bright scarlet tomato, with much of the 
superior finish of Lorillard, productive 
both under glass and in the field, the 
only defect being a rather short stigma 
that lessened chances for full setting in 
midwinter when pollen is scantily pro¬ 
duced. Very good yields were, how¬ 
ever, reported from trials in many local¬ 
ities. Combination has since been used 
in our experiments as a breeder, cross¬ 
ing it first with Mayflower to lengthen 
the stigma and then with Best of All, a 
famous English variety of fine color and 
large size, but with objectionable coarse 
foliage. Considerable disturbances fol¬ 
lowed these repeated injections of alien 
blood, the seedlings coming anything but 
uniform in growth and fruit, but five 
years’ selection of the most promising 
type, after again crossing with the orig¬ 
inal Lorillard, has given us a depend¬ 
able variety, well suited to our condi¬ 
tions. Thirty plants are grown each 
Winter in 12-inch pots, and space is 
given in the lower portions of the house 
for 16 plants of Quarter-Century, a 
scarlet-fruited, dwarf-growing variety, 
also an outcome of the original cross of 
Lorillard and the pink or crimson 
Dwarf Champion. These Quarter-Cen¬ 
tury plants are grown two each in 14- 
inch pots, the combined yield in weight 
of fruits being about equal to that of 
each plant of the perfected Combina¬ 
tion, though the individual tomatoes 
average much smaller. 
Six Pounds to the Plant. — We get 
an average yield for the two varieties of 
six pounds to the pot for the Winter. 
We marketed just 240 pounds during 
the past season, from December 20 to 
April 25, at the uniform price of 25 
cents the pound, amounting to $60 for 
the crop. This is not by any means a 
banner yield, as 10 pounds per plant has 
been attained in modern forcing houses 
under ideal conditions, but must be con¬ 
sidered good for our comparatively low 
temperature. There were 993 tomatoes 
in the 240 pounds, making the average 
weight a trifle less than four ounces 
each. Sizes running not over six to the 
pound are acceptable in market, but 
those approaching four to the pound are 
liked, as they make a better appearance 
when sliced. Combination, as now de¬ 
veloped, bears solid fruits of great 
beauty, high colored and smoothly 
finished, generally in clusters of three 
to five. Fig. 215, page 471, represents, 
reduced in size, a fair cluster, one of 
many produced the past Winter. The 
five tomatoes, all ripe at the same time, 
weighed 26 ounces, and were worth at 
the local grocery 39 cents. The plant 
, is vigorous,, climbing, when trained to a 
singje stem, and allowed sufficient head 
room, 12 or more feet high. The foliage 
is -ample, but open enough in • char¬ 
acter to admit sun to the ripening 
fruits. There is abundance of pollen 
when the weather is at all suitable, and 
about three-fourths of the plants have 
stigmas well projecting. We are breed¬ 
ing for this feature, and find an increas¬ 
ing number each successive generation. 
It is well understood among tomato 
growers that, other conditions being 
equal, a bloom with a long pistil, carry¬ 
ing the stigma beyond the clasping 
anthers is more likely to be fertilized in 
the comparatively still air of a green¬ 
house than one with a short pistil. In 
practicq,; glasshouse tomatoes are pol¬ 
linated by sharply jarring the vine sup¬ 
ports on sunny days when the air with¬ 
in is comparatively dry, or even rap¬ 
ping, with a light stick or long-handled 
brush, the flower clusters themselves. 
This releases the mature pollen contained 
in the chinks of the crowded anthers so 
that it emerges in minute cloud-like 
puffs. If the stigma is beyond the tip 
of the anthers it is almost certain to be 
coated with pollen, as it is usually in 
receptive condition as soon as the pollen 
is ripe. If too short the pollen shower 
passes beyond, so that the sensitive por¬ 
tion of the stigma may be missed, or 
so imperfectly fertilized that malformed 
fruits follow. Many growers find it 
profitable in dull midwinter weather to 
collect pollen in a watch glass or other 
convenient receptacle and apply it daily 
to such blooms as may appear receptive. 
This work is greatly facilitated when 
the styles are of good length. The ideal 
greenhouse tomato, however, should 
produce sufficient pollen during the 
gloomiest and shortest of Winter days, 
and be so constructed that fertilization 
should result from a comparatively light 
jar. In garden culture agitation by wind 
is generally sufficient to effect pollina¬ 
tion of all varieties, even those with 
nearly concealed stigmas. Insects ap¬ 
parently have little to do with tomato 
pollination, and extra long styles may 
even be disadvantageous outside by 
permitting the stigmatic surface to be wet 
with dew or rain. Every gardener is 
aware that tomatoes rarely “set”’ well in 
rainy weather. Mayflower of all va¬ 
rieties has characteristically the most 
projecting stigmas, and has never been 
considered prolific in the field, but was 
long a favorite inside for its reliability. 
The fruits are large and of good qual¬ 
ity, but rather flabby in texture, and the 
foliage is too profuse for best results. 
The blending of Mayflower with Loril¬ 
lard, Best of All and the stocky Dwarf 
Champion promises in the end to de¬ 
velop a superior type for Winter cul¬ 
ture. 
Diseases and Enemies. —The only 
disease to fear if healthy seed, clean soil 
and sterilized pots are used, is brown 
mildew, which appears in spots on the 
older leaves, gradually killing them. It 
may be controlled by painting the heat¬ 
ing pipes with sulphur mixed with sour 
milk or whitewash, by avoiding draughts 
and maintaining a regular temperature 
even if not high enough for the best 
needs of the plants. When it appears, 
portions of the affected foliage may be 
cut away, and it will be found good 
practice to remove leaves that cease to 
be useful to the plant. Sulphide of 
potassium solution, one ounce to the gal¬ 
lon of water, applied as a spray when 
freshly made, is effectual as a mildew 
preventive, but has the disadvantage of 
blackening all the white lead paint it 
touches. It does not affect, thte; 
aluminum paint! now frequently used 
for the inside of greenhouses. The only 
serious insect pest is the greenhouse 
white fly, now abundant everywhere. 
Hydrocyanic acid gas is the sovereign 
remedy, effectual though dangerous to 
life in careless hands. Fumigation once 
every three or four weeks in the pro¬ 
portions of three ounces potassium 
cyanide to each 1,000 cubic feet of space 
contained within the greenhouse! will 
keep them in check. Should they be¬ 
come numerous from neglect the fumi¬ 
gation should be repeated within 10 
days to catch the newly emerged flies. 
Fumigations are always made at night 
when the air is dry and temperature not 
above 60 degrees. w. v. f. 
“For the Land's Sake use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it. Est. 1873. For prices 
or agencies address Bowker, Boston or 
New York.” 
The Reason Why the 
Spramotor 
has been demanded by the users is because it is the 
most useful com¬ 
bination for the 
purpose for which 
it is intended. The 
illustration will 
show all its parts, 
and intending pur¬ 
chasers of spray¬ 
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"Sins invited to thor- 
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Hand 
Spramotors 
are made as per 
the cut. It’s effect¬ 
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economical, reli¬ 
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as long as required 
for painting, 
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orchard, potato, 
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spraying. 
Free catalogue. 
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1237 Erie Street, 
BUFFALO, NEW YORK. 
GET THE BEST 
A Good Spray Pump "earns 
big profits and lasts for years. 
THE ECLIPSE 
is a good pump. As 
t practical fruit grow¬ 
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sprayers in ourown orchards 
—found their defects and 
invented the Eclipse. Its 
success forced us to manu¬ 
facturing on a larp 2 scale. 
You take no chances. We 
have done all the experi¬ 
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and Treatise on spraying FREE. 
MORRILL & MORLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
Nitrate of Soda 
Nitrate Sold in Original Bags 
NITRATE AGENCIES CO. 
64 Stone Street, New York 
Keyser Building, Baltimore, Md. 
36 Bay Street, East, Savannah, Ga* 
305 Baronne Street, New Orleans, La. 
Holcombe & Co., 50 Clay Street, 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Address Office Nearest You 
Orders for All Quantities Promptly 
Filled-Write for Quotations 
7HSS DIGGER WON'T 
DISAPPOINT 
because It Is not an experiment. We 
worked for years perfecting ii before 
putting on market. Wo determined 
it should sustain thesame high repu¬ 
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have made, and it lias. Last 
year it replaced many 
other makes. Special 
features are: Light 
draft, durability, 
free from cost- 
iv remirs: 
Construction | 
differ cut 
from all! 
others. Has 
paten tod | 
features. 
Increase Crops in Orchard and Field with 
THE AUTO-SPRAY 
It is guaranteed to be the most power¬ 
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Pop Nozzle itis equal to large opera¬ 
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agency. Spraying Calendar Free. 
E. C. Brown Co- as j. t si Rochester, H, T, 
POTATOES W,TH 
THE 
Watson—High Pressure 
—Automatic —Including Agitator and Strainer Cleaner— 
Sprays 40 acres daily—State experiments show gain of more 
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Also HAY TOOLS, Hum Door 
Hungers, Huy Hack .Clamps. 
Write today for Circulars and Prices. 
K.K. ilfy.rn & llro., lGOrftngp Ht., Ashland. I). 
THE 
PUMP 
THAT 
PUMPS 
Mr. Fruit-Grower! 
Is the maker's name and 
the word " Patkntkd ” 
stamped upon the spray 
Nozzles you are nsing? 
c.s.pat. If not, wh y not? 
wjfn Think it over. 
“FRIEND” MFG. C0„ 
GASPORT, N.Y., U. S. A, 
PATDdS PIKOH- 
BEATS THE 
Grindstone 
TEN TIMES OVER 
No pressure, no drawing 
temper, if you use the 
Practical 
Alundum 
Grinder 
with wheel revolving 
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Far superior to emery??! 
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Different sizes. Foot 
power attachment. 
Write for circular of particu¬ 
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ROYAL MFG. CO., 226 E. Walnut St„ Lancaster, Pa. 
NIAGARA BRAND LIME SULPHUR SOLUTION 
Most effective winter and snnimer spray there is, for all forms of sucking insects and fungus. 
Universally endorsed, as we can prove. Absolutely guaranteed. 
NIAGARA ARSEXATE OF LEAD for chewing Insects. 
NIAGARA READY BORDEAUX. NIAGARA GAS SPRAYERS. 
Booklet that everybody should have, FREE for the asking. Address 
NIAGARA SPRAYER COMPANY,MIDDLEPORT, N. Y. 
on Free Trial 
NO MONEY IN ADVANCE 
PAY AFTER IT HAS PAID FOR ITSELF 
Spray first, then if yon buy—pay ns ont of the extra profit. 
’ ‘ id 6 ... ...... — 
Sr 
tatoes and Truck 4 and 6 rows at a time.—Also first-class Orchard _ __ _ 
and horse-power. High pressure and perfect agitation. Vapor spray stops Blight, Scab, 
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ret our Valuable Spraying 
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first in each locality. — Bo 
First to Write Us. 
H. L. HURST MFG. CO. 
10 North St. Canton, 0. 
FOR MORSE-POWER 
WHY NOT USE 
HUBBARD’S FERTILIZERS? 
Send for Hubbard’s Fertilizer Almanac 1908, telling all about them. 
IT IS FREE. 
THE ROGERS & HUBBARD CO., 
Middletown, - Connecticut. 
