4 ‘ ‘ 

HE tomato is a universally favorite vegetable and no other 
fruit carries greater health bearing elements. No matter 
how small the garden, it should contain at least a few plants 
so that the family can have a fresh supply during a long sea- 
son. The fresh fruits sliced or uSed in leafy salads add zest to 
the meal. There is no better appetizer than tomato juice. 
OUR TOMATO SEED 
Of recent years there has been a great improvement in to- 
mato varieties. Fruits are smoother, larger, flesh more solid, 
plant yields increased and disease resistant varieties developed. 
Our tomato seed certainly must have “something on the ball’ 
because our sales in the larger tomato shipping districts have 
increased so rapidly. With probably no other vegetable is the 
value of high altitude growing of the seed and the natural 
selection for earliness and hardiness so well demonstrated. The 
soil, sunshine and irrigation water supply the elements needed 
to develop seed of strong vitality. Seed being the plant in 
embryo transfers this increased vitality on to the growing 
plants and results in larger yields of high quality tomatoes. 
Our seed crops are grown from select stock seed saved from 
individual plants. 
HOW TO GROW TOMATOES 
One ounce of seed will produce 3,000 to 4,000 plants, however, 
some should ‘be allowed for safety so that only good strong 
plants may be set. Ordinarily two ounces of seed is the amount 
suggested per acre but this is usually more than enough. The 
seed may be treated before planting using the Ceresan, Seme- 
san, or other seed disinfectant. Plants should be set out as 
soon as all danger of frost is over. Seed may be planted in 
the hotbed or in flats in the greenhouse about six weeks before 
transplanting to the field. Sufficient plants for a small garden 
can be started by sowing a few seeds in a shallow box and 
placing in a sunny window in the house. When the seedlings 
reach the height of about one inch, they may be transplanted 
in a larger box, hot bed or cold frame and space about 4 inches 
apart. The article on page 6 gives information regarding hot- 
beds and cold frames. Use only loose soil that will not bake 
or crust easily. This extra transplanting is now rarely done 
by large commercial growers. The plants usually being thinned 
in the beds to stand two or three inches either way. If the 
plants become too tall and ‘“‘leggy” they are sometimes sheared. 
It is much better, however, to keep the beds cool enough so 
that short, stocky, hardy plants are produced. Keep the soil 
moist enough for good steady growth. Too much watering 
will result in spindling plants and increases the, danger of 
“damping off.’”’ Semesan spray will help correct “damping off.’ 

74 
Staking special plants from which to save stock seed for our own plantings. 

