Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1907 — TOMATO INDUSTRY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TOMATO INDUSTRY.

Some Varieties That Are Grown With Great Success. This exhibit of tomatoes, shown at the 1906 Illinois fair, was remarkable for uniformity of size and color. The meat was tender, yet firm. The plants were grown in a cold frame, and were transplanted to the open garden about May, cultivated carefully aud tied to stakes. The yield was satisfactory in every way. For central Illinois, Acme,

Livingston, Prizetaker, Perfection and Paragon do well, says American Agriculturist. In the same journal Professor R. L. Watts writes of the tomato industry in Maryland as follows: “Tomatoes are grown very extensively In Maryland. Thousands of tons are used by the canning factories, local markets are well supplied and a large quantity is shipped to northern markets. The industry is most important in the Eastern Shore counties, but it is by no means restricted to this section. Thousands of acres of sandy and gravelly loams in different parts of the state produce the finest tomatoes. Climatic conditions are particularly favorable for this vegetable. The seasons are sufficiently long to sow the seed in the open ground and have plenty of time for the crop to ripen before severe frosts occur in the fall. Many varieties- are grown for canning factories. The old standard Stone has numerous friends; the Greater Baltimore, the heaviest yielder at the Maryland station, is successful on many farms. The I X L is well spoken of by many gardeners, and a large number of other varieties are grown to a less extent.

Bagging Grapes. If ordinary Mgs are put on before spores of the rot fungus have found lodging upon the berries, the latter will be as safe inside as they would be if the bags were soaked in a copper solution. Yet we cannot expect good fruit, especially of best quality, If the foliage is not perfect says an authority on the subject. It is just as necessary to protect the foliage from disease as the fruit; hence we do not see how bagging can entirely take the place of spraying. Rib Plantain In lowa. Rib grass or rib plantain, found in ninety-eight samples of red clover seed, is a weed that is of comparatively recent introduction into lowa, but the numerous specimens sent to the lowa station for identification during the past year would indicate that they are very rapidly spreading over the state. Big Pea Garden. An agricultural novelty which shows the magnitude of American operations is a big pea garden in Colorado. At this place there are 3,000 acres of peas. At a central point there is a large cannery, and from this plant it is four miles to the farthest points of the garden.—Ga rdening. Shipping Lettuce. The best shipping carrier for lettuce la the veneer basket As lettuce IS light in weight compared with most truck, the one-half barrel size of basket seems to be most in favor.—W. N, Hutt

PRIZE TOMATOES.