Vee The tomato is a universally favorite vegetable and no other 
mt fruit carries greater health bearing elements. No matter how 
small the garden, it should contain at least a few plants so that 
p the family can have a fresh supply during a long season. The 
th fresh fruits sliced or used in leafy salads add zest to the meal. 
it There is no better appetizer than tomato juice. 
tu! OUR TOMATO SEED 
Our tomato seed certainly must have “something on the ball” 
ft because sales are so heavy in the larger tomato shipping districts. 
Wl With probably no other vegetable is the value of high altitude 
d fy growing of the seed and the natural selection for earliness and 
4 hardiness so well demonstrated. The soil, sunshine and irriga- 
tl tion water supply the elements needed to develop seed of strong 
Lovet vitality. Seed being the plant in embryo transfers this increased 
) vitality on to the growing plants and results in larger yields of 
‘i high quality tomatoes. Our seed crops are grown from select 
$2 stock seed saved from individual plants. 
) ty HOW TO GROW TOMATOES 
Many commercial growers now drill tomato seed in the field at 
the rate of % to % pound per acre. Depth of planting about 
4% 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 indi- 
cated for transplanted plants. 
One ounce of seed will produce 2000 to 3000 plants, however, 
‘ted some should be allowed for safety so that only good strong plants 
dark may be set. % oz. will plant 100 ft. of row seeded direct. Ordi- 
narily two ounces of seed is the amount suggested per acre but 
this is usually more than enough. The seed may be treated be- 
eet, fore 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. 
Ib, 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 in a shallow box: 
(10 see (D) page 94. When the seedlings reach the height of about 
30) one inch they may be transplanted in a larger box, hotbed or cold 
frame and space about 4 inches apart. 
ts PLANTING IN HOTBEDS 
and Be sure to read the information given on pages 6 and 7 con- 
a, cerning hotbeds; soils, watering, planting and heating. 
(he) Arasan and Semesan for treating seed — page 73, 
TRANSPLANTING ; 
rid. Varieties with small vines may be set four feet by four feet 
pl which will require 2,723 plants per acre. 1,743 plants are required 
if spaced 5 feet by 5 feet. This much room or more being required 
is by the large vining sorts such as Norton and Marglobe. If 
Oh checked in squares, plants may be cultivated both ways. <i 
rt, 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, set- 
ing out firmly to prevent the hot sun from withering and blight- 
ing the leaves. Before setting out, harden the plants by letting 
nes 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 
el 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. 
| If possible irrigate once each day for two or three days follow- 
ing. If not under irrigation, singie holes are dug, the roots in- 
serted, the earth filled in and the water poured on top to settle 
the plant. The new mechanical plant setters used on large acre- 
ages 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 
i 
Hotbed Heaters listed page 6 
| See pages 95 and 96 for figuring postage on not postpaid items 65 
