A TOMATO FARM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 457, 16 March 1909, Page 2

A TOMATO FARM.

INTERESTING WORK. IMPROVING THE STRAINS. To seo tomatoes at their best (writes our | travelling correspondent) one wants to pay a visit to Mr. Fowler's place,_ about 2 miles on the Marton side of Onopuhi bridge. There tlicy are by tho thousand, over two miles of plaiits if the rows were placed continuously. There is a wonderful crop this year, tho hot season having been an ideal one for the tomato. They arc planted 18 inches apart, in rows four feet six inches wide, and are all grown on the single-stem system. The ground is kept beautifully clean, and the surface always loose: it is wonderful how moist tho soil is wliero the roots of the plants run. Posts arc placed in the ground at tho ends of tlio rows, three feet deep, with a lean outwards, so as to do away, with tlio need of stays. Two No. 10 wires arc stretched between the posts, with stakes at intervals; then a flax stick is put between the wires and behind tho plant; then the wires aro given a twist, and another stick is put, in, and so on all the way along the rows. Tlio wires, aro strained before putting in tlio sticks, which latter also cause a further strain by taking up tlio wiro in twisting. The result is that the rows aro quite rigid, and will stand any amount of wind. Favourite Sorts. On tho day I was there the long rows of heavily-laden plants were a grand sight. On somo days tho pickings have ranged as high as a ton. Several varieties aro grown. There aro somo from America—"Matchless," "Jewel," and "Noblo"—all very fine, smooth fiuit, and a new variety from England, "Tho King." It is an enormous cropper, and produces fruit of perfect shape and tho highest flavour. Mr. Fowler saves all his seed from the varieties which are found after a good trial to bo adapted to the locality. This seed is only saved from tho first truss of fruit on plants which show the most perfect symmetry and aro the heaviest croppers. No seed is taken from second trusses, the object being to produce plants which will set their first truss. This is a fault with a great many tomatoes, that they do not set tho first truss. By the selection which is carried out by Mr. Fowler's.sons, who manago this part of the farm work, a plant has been producod which almost always sets tho first truss. A consequence is that 'much earlier fruit is produced, and fruit of tho finest quality. Caters for All. All tho tomatoes grown hero aro round smooth varieties, and when packed in tho cases they look a perfect picture. Three grades aro sent out—"prime," specially selected and of even shape; "choice," just as good fruit, but perhaps not quite so uniform in size; and "sauce,'' all sound fruit, hut of odd shapes. There is also' another grade, "bottling," for which there is a largo demand. They aro about tho size of golf balls, and aro quite round. Altogether, a visit to this orchard is very interesting. Most fruits do well, especially apricots and poaches. Mr. Fowler has planted a good many apricots, and has just placed an order for a lot of peach trees, early plum trees, Japanese chestnuts, and walnuts for planting during the coming season.