June 28, 1913 



HORTICULTURE 



951 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



i^^^y^, 



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

 by Mr. Penson. Such communications should invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



Grapes Cracking 



One of the causes of grapes cracking was mentioned 

 in my notes of last week — that of allowing the border to 

 get dry and then soaking it with water, which is going 

 from one extreme to the other. Extremes of various 

 kinds are generally to be blamed for cracking. Not only 

 at the roots will excessive moisture affect them but the 

 same thing may happen through an over-abundance in 

 the atmosphere. Suddenly restricting or reducing the 

 top growth will cause a rush of sap to the berries, being 

 partly ripened, consequently the skin will not expand so 

 readily and thus often results in the above disaster. 

 After the first signs of ripening are noticed keep every- 

 thing as uniform as possible. !More air must be given 

 and so on but make a point of doing it all gradually and 

 keep the moisture evenly distributed, leaving any sub- 

 laterals that may be growing to go as they please. This 

 will take all the sap not utilized by the berries. Many 

 houses may come through year after year without any 

 signs of this trouble. When it does put in an appearance 

 cut out any cracked berries right away or they will soon 

 decay and damage their neighbors. Madresfield Court 

 and Foster's Seedling are two of the worst in this respect 

 and a careful watch should be kept when passing through 

 this period. 



Propping Apples 



Apples can be treated in a similar manner, which will 

 often save a considerable number of fruits. One better 

 than this is to "prop" them. It answers the same pur- 

 pose as propping peaches or nectarines — gives the sun a 

 chance to get all around them bringing out the true 

 color. Grown in the orchards we have to be contented 

 wifli a rosy cheek on one side only — many good eating at 

 that. Pot grown apples are not money makers but make 

 a good decoration and novelty. To "prop" them bend a 

 piece of wire into a ring large enough for the fruit to 

 rest on, leaving the ends of the wire attached so that they 

 make as it were a handle. This handle can be bent into 

 any shape to suit the fruit it is to support, it being tied 

 to a nearby strong branch. The cup or ring on which the 

 fruit is to rest must be covered over with cotton wool to 

 prevent bruising. The fruit is then laid on it horizon- 

 tally and can be turned around gradually until the true 

 color is seen on all sides. All growths made on both 



pears and apples should be stopped at four leaves to 

 assist the flower bud formation. 



Pears in Pots 



It is well to leave pears to hang on the trees until quite 

 ripe, if the largest and best fruit is desired, which is 

 taking a risk if they are not guarded against falling, as 

 a pear is liable to drop without any warning. The weight 

 of the fruit will make the slender branches bend con- 

 siderably if they are not located on a spur which has the 

 support of a stronger branch. Where the former con- 

 dition is noticeable loop them up to a stronger growth 

 or put a stake to the tree and tie them up to this. To 

 prevent their falling to the gi-ound and being bruised 

 make a tie on to the stalk of the fruit and then with the 

 same string make a tie on to the gi'owth bearing it, giv- 

 ing perhaps an inch play. Should the fruit drop off the 

 tree it will be suspended in the air until such time as it 

 is removed. Pears have been known to hang for days 

 like this without injury. 



The Muscat House 



Muscats will now be coming in and need similar treat- 

 ment to any other vines at this stage. Let them have 

 as much air as is possible after considering the past week 

 or two, gradually using them to the ventilators' being 

 wide open during the day. This most sought after of all 

 grapes gTOwn will finish up a golden color without show- 

 ing any trouble. ^Muscat of Alexandria will keep for a 

 considerable time after being ripe. 



Cucumbers in Frames 



I'ucumljcrs miglit have been coupled with melons 

 when refering to them in the frames. The English 

 forcing cucumbers will not grow, to amount to anything, 

 in the open air, the frame holding the moisture makes 

 all the difference. An advantage the cucumber has over 

 the melon for this work is in their developing earlier 

 and quicker and our being able to use any half developed 

 fruits at the time the frames are wanted again. It will 

 be necessary to shade the glass to prevent the foliage 

 from burning with the very hot sun. Keep lots of 

 moisture around and close up the frame early to keep 

 up a good warm night temperature. Attend to stopping 

 in the usual way and many good fruits will repay you. 



could ever befall the plants during the early stage of 

 growth. 



Disbudding 



With th.e rush of jjlantiug now on, we are bound to 

 neglect the houses a bit, but this should never be done 

 under any circumstances. With plenty of nice stock to 

 choose from, the buyers will always think twice before 

 buying a lot of poor roses, and the grower will be the one 

 vv'ho will suffer for it in more ways than one. First his 

 returns will not be good; second, his name on the roses 

 will he hurt and, third, a lot of people will be dissatisfied 

 and perhaps wait a long long time before spending a 

 dollar for cut flowers again. Keep the houses disbudded 



and add more value to your stock and to the reputation 

 of the same. 



Spraying and Fumigating 

 Watch for a nice cunl night, and then fumigate the 

 wliole place thoroughly, then try to syringe the next day 

 and finish the job. Spraying well-done can be made to 

 he very effective, but it has to be done carefully, and 

 well. In any place where the spray does not reach, bugs 

 will thrive, so beware of all corners, making sure thej' are 

 all sprayed properly. 



