


THE tomato is a universally favorite vegetable and no other 
fruit carries greater healih 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 season. 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 
Our tomato seed certainly must have ‘‘something on the ball’ 
because sales are so heavy in the larger tomato shipping districts. 
With probably no other vegetable is the value of high altitude grow- 
ing 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 grow- 
ing 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 
Many commercial growers now drill tomato seed in the field at 
the rate of % to 2/3 pound per acre. Depth of planting about % 
to % inch. This method is practiced here in the Rocky Ford district. 
Loss in earliness is very little. Plants are thinned to distances and 
rows spaced as indicated for transplanted plants. 
One ounce of seed will produce 2000 to 3000 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 Arasan, Semesan, or other seed disinfec- 
tant. 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 shal- 
low box and placing in a sunny window in the house. When the 
seedlings reach the height of about one inch they may be trans- 
planted in a larger box, hot bed or cold frame and space about 4 
inches apart. The article on page 6 gives information regarding 
hotbeds 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 in- 
creases the danger of “damping off.’’ Semesan spray will help cor- 
rect ‘‘damping off.’’ 

(Continued page 70) 
Hotbed Heaters listed page 7 

Staking special plants from which to save stock seed for our own plantings. 
Limited amounts of stock seed are sold as our Super Select Grade, see page 78. 

