—Lancaster Fannins, Saturday, Decamber 2,1978 110 It doesn’t take soil to An over-view of the inside of the specially designed Quonset building. Mon tgomery estimates this building will yield him 1000 pounds of tomatoes per week, with a net income of about $lO,OOO per house. SNOW TIRES RADIAL SNOWS A7B-13 25.97 C7B-13 27.17 C7B-14 28.67 E7B-14 29.64 F7B-14 31.27 078-14 32.92 H7B-14 34.52 560-15 24.84 078-15 33.61 H7B-15 35.59 L7B-15 37.69 F.E.T. Ranging From 1.80 to 3.28 BR7B-13 36.38 ER7B-14 34.40 FR7B-14 35.50 GR7B-14 36.90 HR7B-14 47.66 6R78-15 38.20 HR7B-15 46.75 LR7B-15 52.71 F.E.T. Ranging From 2.06 to 3.20 FREE MOUNTING FREE BALANCING ON PASSENGER TIRES Hydroponics used grow these tomatoes SPRING CITY - Plump, fresh tomatoes grown locally at Christmas time may seem like a wild dream to the tomato lover, but it is a reality to William V. Mon tgomery Jr. of Spring City Rl. Using a new method in growing food, called hydroponics, Montgomery is making large deliveries, up to 500 pounds, to supermark ets in his area. There is no soil, peat moss, sand or stone used. The plants are cultivated in water containing liquid fertilizer. Montgomery and his partner Curt Nichols of Havertown began planting seeds (which are a tropic variety) on July 3,1978. They began harvesting plump one half pound tomatoes in early October when home gar deners began to see their plants wither from the first GRAIN BINS EXTRA 10% WINTER DISCpUIMT By JOAN LDESAU s In order to keep the factory operating all year round and level out production and shipping schedules we are offering an extra graduated winter discount ending in March of 10% on all orders received in our office before Dec 22,1978. Note This offer has been extended from November 24 and will end December 22. January discount at 2% less. Sale on ail sizes up to 152,000 Bu. includes roof ladder, outside ladder, inside ladder, sidewai! ladder, safety ring, fill hole and cover, manhole, 2 ring door, base angle, bolts, nuts and caulking. * Based on 48 x 9 ring bin. We are also offering an Eight Year Leasing Program which includes bin, concrete foundation, unloading auger with totally enclosed motor, subfloor, aeration fan, completely installed including the freight for 9.6' per bushel per year based on 48 x 9 ring bin. WANTED - DEALERS & SALESMEN Financing arranged through ASCS, Production Credit, leasing companies or your local bank. Call or write for quotation on complete grain handling, drying and storage system, feed grinding, mixing and processing systems, bulk tank metering, weighing and handling equipment. MARTIN DISTRIBUTORS, INC. Rl. LEBANON, PA. 17042 PHONE: 717-866-4906 or 866-4555 frost. The plants are sowing the seeds. “The yield presently four feet tall, and is several times as great as loaded with tomatoes. - Jfrom tomatoes grown the “Hydroponics is an old traditional way, since the concept which recently has " plants grow rapidly, produce become practical thanks to a m great volume and for a system of disposable plastic long period of time” he said, tubes that hold the roots of Montgomery estimates the tomato plants,” Mont- that raising tomatoes in his gomerysaid. 124 by 30 foot building will “The plants grow to be 20 yield him 1000 pounds of feet long, resting on inclined tomatoes each week. “We tables and suspended by a pick them several days system of over head cables.” before they are fully ripe,” “The building is a Montgomery said, “they specially designed Quonset ripen naturally, not ar buildmg covered by a tifically” he added. double-thick translucent polyester roof.” “My 900 tomato plants are fed a nutrient solution round the clock” he explained. Precise amounts of liquid fertilizer are measured out and dispensed so they flow by gravity for a ten minute period, followed by a five minute rest period.” Montgomery harvested his first tomatoes 90 days after Montgomery expects his tomato yield to decrease during the short-day December months because he does not use artificial lighting. He expects the yield to increase again in January and continue into June of 1979. When the plants are 12 months old, they reach the end of their reproductive efficiency. At that point the (Turn to Page 120)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers