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Show , POINTS IN TOMATO CULTURE. A Summary of KMltt OfcSaiueil i.t the Cornell Cniversit.v Kxperiment Station. Fcr several years past the tomato has been the subject of investigation and study at the Cornell University experiment experi-ment fatatiou at Ithaca, N. Y., both in the open field and under glass. Some of the results have been previously published, pub-lished, but a summary of what has been learned, including much for the present year, will be of general interest to tomato to-mato growers. As to fertilizers, thebest for tomatoes are those which produco their effects early in the season. Early applications of nitrate of soda produced early results, but nitrate of soda is an incomplete in-complete fertilizer and should not be used to the exclusion of other fertilizers unless the soil is already rich in potash and phosphoric acid. Upon poor soils it is of but little advantage when used alone. The experiments of two years show that tomato plants that are early set in the field are less injured by inclement weather than is generally supposed, and that very early setting on well prepared land appears to be advisable. Two transplantings gave better results than three, but much depends upon the condition of the plants, their age and the way in which they are handled. Slight trimming during July and August' appears ap-pears to be beneficial. Single stem training of tomatoes gave twice as much yield per square foot as ordinary cutting, somewhat earlier results, re-sults, and it greatly decreased injury from rot. Little if anything appears to be gained by selecting seeds from first ripe fruits with no reference to the character of the plant from which they come. Upright and open training tends to decrease injury in-jury from rot. Keeping quality does not appear to be corelated with solidity, or associated with varietal differences, and is not therefore associated with best shipping qualities. Tomatoes mix in the field, aud even hybrids with the common type of tomato may arise spontaneously. Red tomatoes sometimes come from yellow and purple fruits. Tomatoes run out, or lose their distinguishing dis-tinguishing characters. Even the most popular varieties of teif years ago are not often obtained true to type at the present time. lgnotnm is the best variety for all purposes pur-poses grown at the station tins year. Among the introductions of the year the following are represented as the most promising: Cumberland Red, Long-keeper, Long-keeper, Mitchell, Potomac, Red Mikado' and Stone. |
