THE 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 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 
BeOS 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 1% 
to % inch. This method is practiced here in the Rocky Ford district 
and in the southern states. Loss in earliness is very little. Plants 
are thinned to distances and rows spaced as indicated for trans- 
planted 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. \% oz. will plant 100 ft. of row seeded direct. 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 
Arasan, Semesan, or other seed disinfectant. It is a good practice 
to sprinkle top of soil lightly, after the seed is sown, with a solution 
of copper to retard Alternia leaf spot. Seed may be planted in the 
hotbed or in flats in the greenhouse about six weeks before trans- 
planting to the field. Sufficient plants for a small garden can be 
started by sowing in a shallow box: see (D) page 94. When the 
seedlings reach the height of about one inch they may be trans- 
planted in a larger box, hotbed or cold frame and space about 4 
inches apart. 
PLANTING IN HOTBEDS 
Be sure to read the information given on pages 7 and 8 con- 
be hotbeds; soils, watering and draining, planting and 
eating. 
Arasan and Semesan for treating seed—page 72. 
TRANSPLANTING 
Varieties with small vines may be set four feet by four feet 
which will require 2,723 plants per acre. 1,743 plants are re- 
quired if spaced 5 feet by 5 feet. This much room or more 
being required by the large vining sorts such as Norton and 
Marglobe. If checked in squares, plants may be cultivated both 
ways. In transplanting the main points to be regarded are: 
care in taking up the plants to avoid injury to the roots, setting 
out as soon as possible to prevent the air coming in contact 
with the roots, setting out firmly to prevent the hot sun from 
withering and blighting the leaves. Before setting out, harden 
the plants by letting them get quite dry a day or two before, 
but give them abundance of water, a few hours before pulling. 
Setting out is most apt to be successfully done just at evening 
or immediately before or during a rain. About the worst time 
is just after a rain, when the ground being wet it is impossible 
to sufficiently press it about the plants without baking hard. 
Never set a field without the use of water. Under irrigation, 
plants should be set on the edge of the furrow and immediately 
followed by water. é 
If possible irrigate once each day for two or three days 
following. If not under irrigation, single holes are dug, the 
roots inserted, the earth filled in and the water poured on top 
to settle the plant. The new mechanical plant setters used on 
large acreages automatically supply water to the roots. Water 
should be used freely and the wet surface immediately covered 
with dry soil about the plant. Set the plants deeply (about 
two-thirds of the stem) and new roots will be thrown out from 
the buried portion. 
Continued following page 
Hotbed Heaters listed page 7 
jessie 
See pages 95 and 96 for figuring postage on not postpaid items 
fe a me tT LD LIES E ea G? GTi) ee 
65 
