hy 
use 
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 
growing of the seed and the natural selection for earliness and 
hardiness so well demonstrated. The soil, sunshine and irriga- 
tion 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 
Many commercial growers now drill tomato seed in the field at 
the rate of % to % pound per acre. Depth of fans about 
% 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. 
Western Yellows Blight is usually reduced by growing direct 
from seed in the field rather than transplanting. 
One ounce of seed will produce 2000 to 3000 plants. % oz. 
will plant 100 ft. of row seeded direct. The seed may be treated 
with Arasan or Semesan (see page 73) for disinfecting. It is 
good practice to sprinkle top of soil lightly with a solution of 
copper, after the seed is sown. Seed may be planted in the hot- 
bed 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 Ser Ounas reach the height of about one inch they may be 
transplanted into a larger box, hotbed or cold frame and spaced 
about 4 inches apart. 
Blocking will cause the roots to branch and hold the soil 
together so plants can be moved without disturbing roots. 
Plants should be at least 4 in. apart both ways allowing the 
soil to be cut with a knife between the plants, About 10 days 
before setting out, the first cut is made midway between the 
plants in one direction only. Three days later cut the other 
direction to divide soil into squares or blocks, Water heavily 
after each cutting to prevent severe wilting. 
PLANTING IN HOTBEDS 
Be sure to read the information given on pages 6 and 7 con- 
cerning hotbeds; soils, watering, planting and heating. 
Arasan and Semesan for treating seed — page 73. 
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 required 
if spaced 5 feet by 5 feet. This much room or more being required 
by the large vining sorts. 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 
ee 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, single holes are dug, the roots in- 
serted. the earth filled in and the water poured on top to settle 
the plant. 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 6 
65 
