TOMATO CULTURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 27 January 1913, Page 2

TOMATO CULTURE

In view of tho prevalence of diseases of various kinds that have caused considerable losses to growers during the past two seasons, tho following article from the pen of Mr W. A. Boucher in the department's " Journal " should be read with general interest, especially by those who wake tomato culture a business. Mr Boucher writes: " Complaints have been received from many tomato-growers of want of success in keeping their plants free from disease, unsatisfactory crops being the natural result. It is a common mistake to overlook tho fact that the tomato is naturally a gross feeder. To apply to such a plant tho conditions frequently found in a tomato-house—a free, woll-drained soil heavily manured, frequent and heavy watering, together with excessive heat—only tends to produco rank, sappy growth, and large, tender foliage. . . . EARLY FORCING CONDEMNED. " Susceptibility to disease is often promoted by the early forcing of the plants, which aro overcrowded in the propagation-boxes, with the result that they become drawn up and weak,.instead of being stocky and strong. These plants aro then set out in soil that ha 3 been overmanured. Many growers seem to bo under the impression that the soil should be well manured before the plants are set out, and, in applying the manurial treatment to the small area contained in a tomato-house, they are altogether too liberal. Where tho quantities of manures applied to some houses have been worked out at tho rate per square yard, it has been found that the amounts have been so large as to bo actually injurious to tho plants rather than beneficial. OVER-MANURING.

“ Instead of tho manure being carefully proportioned per square yard of the area under cultivation, tho manure, possibly on account of the very smallness of tbo area, is not unfrcquently measured out by the, bucket, and accordingly applied entirely by guesswork. 'ibis too-liboral treatment of the soil is frequently followed by heavy watering combined with excessive heat, producing unnatural conditions which tend to lower instead of increase tho vitality of tho plants. Tho general result, then, is much increased susceptibility to various diseases. VALUE OF CULTIVATION.

£i Bolter results would often 1)G derived by raisinr; and planting out only sturdy, stocky plants in soil that is not too rich, end implying the manure after tho plants hare commenced to blossom and at intervals during tho season; by reducing the quantity of water and increase tlie cultivation of tho sod; by keeping down tho heat with plenty of top ventilation; and by, as far as possible, avoiding tho use of stable manure as a mulch. "With regard to this last condition, cultivation of tho soil is much lo !>e preferred to any mulch of decaying vegetable matter that may bo.used as a. means of retain-

ing tho moisture in the soil. Decaying vef.liable. matter in a tomato-house may b-, regarded as distinctly contributing to the difficulty of keeping fungus diseases well under control.”