TOMATO CULTURE

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To
Dr. F. M. Hexamer

IN HONOR OF HIS LIFELONG EFFORTS FOR THE
BETTERMENT OF AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL
PRACTICE

Copyright, 1907, by
ORANGE JUDD COMPANY

All rights reserved

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WHERE NEW VARIETIES OF TOMATOES ARE DEVELOPED AND TESTED
(By courtesy American Agriculturist. Photo by Prof. W. G. Johnson)

PREFACE

This little book has been written in fulfilment of a promise made many years ago. Again and again I have undertaken the work, only to lay it aside because I felt the need of greater experience and wider knowledge. I do not now feel that this deficiency has been by any means fully supplied, but in some directions it has been removed through the kindness of Dr. F. H. Chittenden of the Bureau of Entomology, who wrote the chapter on insect enemies, and of W. A. Orton of the Bureau of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, who wrote the chapter on diseases of tomatoes.

I have made free use of, without special credit, and am largely indebted to, the writings of Doctor Sturtevant and Professor Goff, Professor Munson of Maine, Professor Halsted of New Jersey, Professor Corbett of Washington, Professor Rolfs of Florida, Professor Bailey of New York, Professor Green of Ohio, and many others. I have also found a vast amount of valuable information in the agricultural press of this country in general. I am also indebted to L. B. Coulter and Prof. W. G. Johnson for many photographs. My thanks are also due B. F. Williamson, who made the excellent drawings for this book under Professor Johnson's direction.

Tomatoes are among the most generally used and popular vegetables. They are grown not only in gardens, but in large areas in every state from Maine to California and Washington to Florida, and under very different conditions of climate, soil and cultural facilities, as well as of requirements as to character of fruit. The methods which will give the best results under one set of conditions are entirely unsuited to others.

I have tried to give the nature and requirements of the plant and the effect of conditions as seen in my own experience, a knowledge of which may enable the reader to follow the methods most suited to his own conditions and requirements, rather than to recommend the exact methods which have given me the best results.

 Will W. Tracy.

Washington, April, 1907.

CONTENTS

 page

Preface v

CHAPTER I

Botany of the Tomato 1

CHAPTER II

History 14

CHAPTER III

General Characteristics of the Plant 20

CHAPTER IV

Essentials for Development 28

CHAPTER V

Selection of Soil for Maximum Crop 33

CHAPTER VI

Exposure and Location 38

CHAPTER VII

Fertilizers 43

CHAPTER VIII

Preparation of the Soil 46

CHAPTER IX

Hotbeds and Cold-frames 51

CHAPTER X

Starting Plants 59

CHAPTER XI

Proper Distance for Planting 68

CHAPTER XII

Cultivation 76

CHAPTER XIII

Staking, Training and Pruning 79

CHAPTER XIV

Ripening, Gathering,