144 



HOKTICULTURE 



February 1, 1913 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



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CONDUCTED BY 



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Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promtply answered 

 by Mr. Fenson. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICUI/TURB. 



Propagating Grape Vines 



No time is better suited for propagating grape vines 

 than the present. They have been rooted in January 

 but it was not advantageous in any way. While rooting 

 is comparatively easy at all times, February and March 

 seem to inspire a natural instinct to root and grow. The 

 grape vine has an ambition to be self-supporting in every 

 branch, inasmuch as whenever the least iri'eg-ularity oc- 

 curs from the main feeding source they at once set out 

 to make roots from all "quarters." These aerial or 

 adventitious roots as they are known, are formed on the 

 hard wood on any portion of the main stem or spurs. 

 If these were left undisturbed, under natural conditions 

 they would in time reach the soil and assist in support- 

 ing the vine. This is only an instance of how the vine 

 seems ever ready to make roots. When growing under 

 glass any quantity of these should be regarded as a 

 warning of something wrong down below, for sure it 

 is a bad sign. 



Thinking of the vine in a wild state as being not 

 strong enough to support itself individually as the 

 stronger trees do, brings one's mind to picture portions 

 rent from their accustomed place, — once supported by an 

 arm of strength or gently swaying branch, now dashed to 

 the ground, perhaps the greater portion of life's sus- 

 tenance cut away. What do we find under such circum- 

 stances of partial support ? A gradual decay ? Xo — 

 more roots. At the point where the vine comes in eon- 

 tact with the soil there it will root, which in some degree 

 is equivalent to layering. Notice, both modes of natural 

 root production are from the hard wood. It is not an 

 impossibility to root cuttings from the young growths 

 but the percentage would be very small indeed. 



Vines can be propagated from seeds; new varieties 

 are raised in this way but othei^ise seeds are not used, 

 the usual methods adopted being by cuttings, layers or 

 eyes. Cuttings is the method generally used for propa- 

 gating outside varieties of grape vines in quantity. 

 Shoots are taken at pruning time about a foot long with 

 a "heel" — that is a portion of the preceding year's wood 

 at the base — and inserted in a bed prepared for them, 

 allowing the two top eyes only to grow. 



Layering in a crude way has been mentioned but it is 

 very useful in propagating our own vines and also hardy 

 varieties. The latter are easily brought into rontaet 

 with the soil, but under glass it is not so easy. Probably 

 a growth would have to be grown expressly for it or in 

 the case of an ordinary lateral a pot or pan can be sus- 

 pended underneath and kept properly moist. Cut away 

 a little of the underneath wood, preferably near a joint 

 and peg the growth down into the soil. When rooted 

 gradually sever it from the parent. 



The usual method adopted for propagating vines un- 

 der glass is from "eyes" taken from last season's laterals. 

 Select good plump eyes on well ripened wood. Cut them 

 away singly leaving-three-fourths of an inch of wood on 

 each side. Make this cut obliquely from the underneath 

 side of the eye to the top ; this gives more rooting sur- 

 face than a right-angled cut and is enough in itself to 

 root from, but a slight abrasion of the bark underneath 

 the eye will give additional rooting surface. Peg the 



eyes down firmly into 4-inch pots filled with nice open 

 compost. Plunge the pots to the rim in a bottom heat 

 of 70 degrees, keeping the top temperature 55 to 60. 

 Water tlie eyes in and spray tlieiu (i\ei- (u-f<isii)nally until 

 growth commences. Eyes should root in three weeks if 

 they are right, when they must be taken out of the bot- 

 tom heat. Give them a little air as the first leaf ex- 

 pands, increasing it as growth increases. When the 4s 

 are filled out with roots pot them on into 6s. 



Complete Winter Work 



Finish up all top dressing, etc., in the late houses with- 

 out delay. Eoots will soon be moving in the latest 

 bouses. In addition to this tlie next eight or ten weeks 

 will be crowded with work of all descriptions which will 

 not wait, so get all in hand that you can by doing up all 

 that remains of tlie winter work right away. 



Disbudding Peach and Nectarine Trees Growing in Pots 



Peach and nectarine, trees growing in puts or tubs 

 having a bush or pyramid shape require quite as much 

 attention to disbudding as their companions trained on 

 the trellis. Little tying is done to these trees to make 

 them shapely, so it devolves on the selection of suitable 

 l)uds so situated that when gniwtJi finishes at tlie en(l 

 of the year the tree will be evenly balanced. The ad- 

 vantage of this will be readily seen, not only in handling 

 and staging but the fruit will be more uniform, in shape 

 and size. A one-sided tree cannot lie turned around 

 after being once located with others. It is a liig hel]} 

 to the fruit to turn the trees around occasionally so that 

 they all get the same amount of sun and air. Keep the 

 (•enter of the tree open always, leaving only enough buds 

 SI) tliat all tlie ensuing growths get full Ijenefit from the 

 light. Let those that remain on the outside have a defi- 

 nite part in keeping the tree in good shape. Encourage 

 growths near the base as these are frequently being 

 broken. The trees should be gone over at least three 

 times, removing a portion of the superfluous growths 

 each time. 



Ventilation 



The present and the two succeeding months are very 

 erratic, making airing a matter of great importance. 

 .Ml kinds of weather are liable to be experienced and it 

 takes a wide-awake eye to detect the sudden changes and 

 he ready for them before they are upon us. See that the 

 liouses do not run up in a morning before a little aii- is 

 put on. Sudden changes in the atmosphere outside and 

 the direction of the wind must be noted at ouee and the 

 houses shifted over, reduced or closed down as the tem- 

 ])erature calls for. After a spell of dull weather the 

 first day's bright stmshine will often "'try'" the tender 

 foliage of a vine or peach — particularly fhe former, in 

 which case do not rush a whole lot of air on; the prob- 

 ability is that this would distress the weak foliage even 

 more. Rather strike the happy medium and keep the 

 floor moist. Avoid cold draughts or mildew will be 

 your Pom])anion for sure. 



Stop the hot water boilers with the herald of a bright 

 day, unless it is freezing sharp. It takes time for hot 

 water pipes to cool, and if the fire is kept going right up 

 to the time they ean be dispensed with, they will remain 



