4 
BULLETIN 78. 
market in many forms and are considered an indispensi- 
ble article of diet. About 300,000 acres are devoted to 
the growth of this crop in the United States, and the pack 
averages about 5,500,000 cases. 
Productiveness of the tomato in the northern states, 
is largely a question of early bearing;—this is especially 
true at our altitude, where the season is comparatively 
short. The plant will outlive the seasons of the north, 
hence its life is determined by the contingencies of frost 
rather than by any inherent limit of duration. It does 
not mature at our altitude and it would probably continue 
to bear for some months if not frosted. It is apparent 
that all advantage possible must be taken of that portion 
of the season most favorable for its fruiting. That the 
lack of success in the Arkansas valley is not altogether a 
matter of seasonal difficulties is evident when we com* 
pare results with those in northern Colorado, one thous¬ 
and feet higher, where the canneries are uniformly success¬ 
ful. In some parts of this district the yield averaged 
fourteen tons per acre in 1901. The product was so large 
that the canneries were unable to handle the acreage 
contracted. 
I have ample reason to believe that aridity is an im¬ 
portant factor in determining the yield of this crop. And 
another factor, no doubt, is the prevalence of strong 
winds or dashing rains at the period when the plant is 
blooming profusely. 
Dropping of the bloom is quite a familiar occurrence. 
Often whole clusters drop, leaving not a single 
flower to produce fruit. As the tomato is a native of a 
warm, moist climate, it is apparent that dry, windy condi¬ 
tions, followed by cold nights, are not favorable to the 
pollenization of the flower and the setting of the fruit. 
For this reason every possible advantage must be taken 
of the growing season, so that if the bloom fails to set at 
one period there will be ample time to secure good results 
later. This principle is often well illustrated with the 
cantaloupe; a crop which there can be no doubt is adapt¬ 
ed to this section. Cold, windy conditions may prevent 
the pollenization of the flowers for a short period and the 
result is that the fruit fails to set. This will be notice¬ 
able during the growing period. The yield is lessened 
thereby, and is especially noticeable if the plants are 
rather late ones so that the shortage may not be made 
up by later favorable conditions. It is reasonable to as¬ 
sume that the same condition holds true with the tomato. 
