John Nash Ott Collection > SERIES II: Educational and Industrial Films

Two Tomatoes

Transcript (Download)

Here are two young tomato plants.

They were started from seed at the same time and are as nearly alike as possible.

These two plants are growing side by side and in the same soil, soil which is poor because it is deficient in plant food elements.

However, to the soil in which the plant on your left is growing has been added a complete balanced plant food, vigoro.

The soil in which the plant on the right is growing has not been supplemented with any plant food.

Watch the plant on the left.

See how early in its development the effects of a plentiful supply of nutrients become evident.

The movements of the plants, you see, are caused not by the wind but by the normal growth which takes place during the daylight hours.

The plants seem to relax during the night.

As these tomato plants grow larger, they must be transplanted to larger containers.

The same soil has been used in these tubs and balanced plant food added to the tub on the left.

Notice the continued rapid growth and healthy green color of the well -fed tomato plant.

Now the tomato plant which has received a complete diet is starting to blossom while its undernourished companion shows no signs at all of formation.

See the phenomenal difference in size and appearance between these two plants.

The unhealthy yellow color indicates this tomato plant is indeed on a near starvation diet.

And while this plant is struggling for a mere existence, the well -nourished tomato plant goes on to bring forth a second and even third cluster of buds.

Let's watch this cluster of blossoms grow and develop into tomatoes.

A plentiful supply of mineral nutrients makes possible this healthy growth.

This frightening process which actually takes days seems only a matter of seconds through time -lapse photography.

And now ripe red juicy tomatoes rich in vitamins and minerals.

Remember, proper feeding through the soil made this healthy tomato plant possible.

You too must have the right kind of nourishment through the food you eat for good health.

you

Identifier
F.2022-09-0245
Date Of Production
1954
Abstract
A short promotional film containing time-lapse photography for Swift & Company's commercial lawn fertilizer, Vigoro.
Description
This film displays two potted tomato plants growing side-by-side in soil that is described by Ott's narration as, "deficient in plant food elements." Ott indicates that the soil belonging to the plant on the left has been supplemented by the completely balanced plant food, Vigoro. Subsequent time-lapse photography documents significantly greater growth and appearance in the Vigoro-fed tomato plant compared to its neighbor on the right. The song, "Cascade," performed by the Royal Artillery Orchestra accompanies the time-lapse photography.

Ott regarded this film as clear evidence of the importance of variations between daytime and evening temperatures toward soil stimulation and plant growth. In Ott's autobiography, My Ivory Cellar: The Story of Time-Lapse Photography, he remarks that because approval for this film project was not granted until the hot summer had already commenced, "To my surprise, there was no noticeable difference in the growth between the two plants being photographed...This experiment was started over again several times, but it was not until fall when the weather and temperature in my greenhouse was considerably cooler that a noticeable difference between the fed and unfed plants was evident. Then the difference was so great that it was almost unbelievable."
Run Time
0:04:16
Format
16mm
Extent
160 feet
Color
Color
Sound
Silent
Reel/Tape Number
1/1
Has Been Digitized?
Yes
Notes
The version of the film streamable on this page combines scans of this film's separate internegative and negative soundtrack elements.
Language Of Materials
English
Element
Internegs
Genre
Scientific
House/garden
Sponsored
Form
Advertisements
Short
Subject
Advertising
Plants
Time
Gardens
Consumer goods
Fruit
Food sciences
Related Collections
SERIES II: Educational and Industrial Films

Related Places
North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Winnetka

Sponsor/client
Swift and Company

Main Credits
Ott, John Nash Jr. (is filmmaker)
John Ott Pictures, Inc. (is production company)

Participants And Performers
Ott, John Nash Jr. (is narrator)

 
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