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HOBTICULTUBE 



May 31, 1913 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDCCTED BY 



r^t^r^, 



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

 by Mr. Penson. Such oomniunications shonld Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICUIiTtlRB. 



Mid-Season Melons 



The head line of this note could easily be criticised 

 and with some truth, as the term "mid season" applied 

 to a fruit which is alwaA's in season is a misnomer, yet, 

 although it can be grown and fruited the whole year 

 round not all gardeners have the facilities at their dis- 

 posal to do so. The spring rush will soon be over ; bed- 

 ding stock and early vegetables are now in their perma- 

 nent quarters, which often makes it possible to grow 

 melons through the summer months or to put in an extra 

 house or two. Any variety will grow to its best during 

 the next few months. Seeds sown now will carry ripe 

 fruits in fourteen weeks or possibly a little less, which 

 brings us into September. A house can be made to last 

 for a month or rushed through in a couple of weeks. 

 This should be borne in mind when sowing. Those who 

 grow melons regularly have their own particular favor- 

 ites, together with their own seedlings. With us Super- 

 lative (one of the best flavored and always reliable mel- 

 ons). His Eminence, Eoyal Jubilee and Sutton's Per- 

 fection are grown most extensively. Perfection is fine 

 during fhe summer months but it is not such a vigorous 

 grower as the others, consequently is not used for early 

 spring or late fall work. Sutton's Emerald Gem should 

 certainly be included if the crop is to cover as long a 

 period as possible. Ringleader, very similar to Eoyal 

 Jubilee, we find blisters with the hot sun and does not 

 surpass the.:latter in flavor, so it loses its place on that 

 account although it sets very freely. King George, one 

 of the newer ones has yet to be tested to ascertain its 

 flavor qualities. It sets very freely. 



Figs 



Continue to feed trees growing in pots or tubs and 

 otherwise treat them well and they will repay you. A 

 mulching of half-decayed cow manure will be of great 

 assistance to them; the roots will come into it at once, 

 making feeding so much easier. Pack the fruits when 

 ripe similarly to peaches. They will be found a diffi- 

 cult thing to pack satisfactorily owing to the fact that 

 they require to be quite ripe before- eating. Many a 

 lover, of fruit has discarded the green fig on account of 

 having the first one not properly ripe. A fig must be 

 ripe to taste good. To the writer the fig has a delicacy 

 and sweetness not to be found in any other fruit. 



Pot Vines 



, Pot vines for nest year's work must receive good at- 

 tention to get the very best constitution into them before 

 fail. Having now filled out the fourten-inch pots with 

 roots they ought to get a little feed. Give it to them 

 now, a little weak to commence with and gradually work 

 it up. It is a mistake to keep them until nearly fall 

 when the wood is commencing to get hard and then try 

 to feed, thinking it will make no great difference to 

 them. ' Do it now while the wood is soft and growing. 

 Presuming the sub-laterals were stopped at the first leaf 

 and the vine itself restricted to the required length of 

 the house they are to be grown in, do not allow any 



more growth on the canes ; rub it off before it gets at all 

 hard. This is making up the eyes and putting the 

 strength where it is wanted. Keep them in a growing 

 vinery, providing it is not shaded too heavy by the per- 

 manent vines. A young vinery growing up the first 

 year is an ideal place for them. Do not be in a hurr}' 

 to get them outside for the reason previously mentioned, 

 of getting the wood to swell. Do not top-dress them, as 

 it fills up the pot and leaves little room for top-dressing 

 next spring. Canes rooted this spring and potted into 

 tens should be encouraged to grow without restriction, 

 which will fill out the pots with liungry-looking roots by 

 repotting time next fall. 



Strawberry Layers 



To obtain the best layers for pot work a section of 

 last year's young plants ought to be kept from fruit- 

 ing this time, which will produce layers much earlier 

 than those carrj-ing a crop ; they will also be in better 

 shape as no feet will have been running over them from 

 day to day. Keep them free from weeds. We find 

 Marshall forces well at all seasons, making up nice 

 crowns in the fall, and given proper treatment the flavor 

 is good. 



Heavy Shoulders on Graces 



Some varieties are noted for having large shoulders 

 and would not be true specimens unless this character- 

 istic is prominent. Gros Colman always has one large 

 shoulder. Lady Hutt in a like manner but more length 

 is attained by the stem which at times makes them look 

 like twin bunches. Black Hamburgh invariably car- 

 ries them, but a clean straight bunch is more desirable 

 for appearance. If these shoulders are cut away the 

 bunches lose considerable weight in consequence. One 

 of the finest examples of a nice straight bunch is to be 

 found in Muscat of Alexandria. The length of these 

 bunches is always good and they look longer than they 

 are, the gentle taper from top to point giving them this 

 deceiving appearance. Gros Guillaume (Barbarossa) is 

 a similarly shaped bunch but not near as elegant on ac- 

 count of the small berries. When penning a few lines 

 on thinning I mentioned the weight-increasing device 

 of tying up the shoulders. There always seems to be 

 two ways of doing a thing and this case is no exception. 

 The majority of men would make a tie or loop around 

 the main stem of the shoulder to be tied up and run a 

 single string up to the wire or lateral. This answers 

 the purpose all right, but often is very difficult to get 

 away from the bunch after cutting, concluding the bunch 

 has filled up. It is a hard proposition to get the point 

 of the scissors far enough in to reach the loop without 

 injuring some berries. This is all avoided by passing 

 the raffia tmderneath the stem of the shoulder and so on 

 around the support, whatever it happens to be, making 

 one large loop which looks like two strings. When this 

 lias to be removed one side is easily cut with scissors or 

 knife and the whole piece draws out without leaving a 

 trace of the valuable part it has played in the formation 

 of tlie bunch. 



