454 



HORTICULTURE 



April 6, 190T 



cogent reasons. At that time the sap has ascended to 

 the leaves, is being elaborated bj- them and descending 

 to perform its natiiral functions, nainely, forming the 

 tissues of which the tree is composed; it has now been 

 changed by the action of the aeration it has received in 

 passing through the foliage into what is technically 

 called cambium and is only deposited, in the tree at the 

 time it is making its annual growth, and then, and 

 then only, qiiick healing can take place before the hot 

 sun of summer can burn the wounds or the cold of 

 winter destroy them. The healing process takes place 

 in the bark and it makes an effort to cover a wound; 

 in small ones it succeeds and it is after a while impos- 

 sible, when the trees have been pruned at that right 

 season, to discover when a wound has been made, but on 

 large branches it cannot cover them, but heals all 

 round the cut. It has been recommended to paint the 

 cuts to preserve them from the weather; this may be 

 all right if the wood only of large wounds is painted, 

 but if the paint is extended over the bark the remedy 

 will be worse than the danger, for the oil in the paint 

 will prevent the natural healing of the bark. If any 

 protective plaster is necessary I would prefer cow dung 

 and clay which might help rather than prevent healing. 



It is "n'ell to look at these subjects from a scientific 

 standpoint, and in this case, if we find that at a certain 

 time cambium is being transformed into tissue and 

 that new tissue is what is required immediately after 

 pruning, then it is a self-evident proposition that this is 

 the time to prune. The above is not a mere theory but 

 is completely established by practice. Some years since 

 I had a nursery and orchard which had been sadly 

 neglected and about the 15th day of June I commenced 

 to give them a vigorous pruning. Some of my neigh- 

 bors thought I was crazy, but I had studied my position 

 and made up my mind to put it into practice, and so I 

 set to work and went through nursery and orchard. In 

 some cases by the time tlie last trees were pruned the 

 first small cuts had entirely healed over and the bark 

 around the larger ones was rapidly healing. Later in 

 the season I painted the wood in the centre of the larger 

 cuts, being careful that the paint did not touch the 

 newly formed bark. In the fall all the minor wounds 

 had healed and the large ones in no danger from decay 

 or forming lairs for insects or fungi. More depends 

 upon careful and judicious pruning and at the right 

 season, than many people imagine. 



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Roses Under Glass 



EEPOTTING 



With the advent of spring repotting commences in 

 earnest, and in order to keep up witli the rapid progress 

 of growth there usually is a tendency to rush this work, 

 a practice wliich often leads to careless potting and con- 

 sequent poo]' results. Eepotting is one of those duties 

 which to be profitable, must be done with speed. There 

 is, however, a speed limit which it is unsafe to exceed, 

 else some of the work will be certain to be done in a slov- 

 enly manner. To have the work performed thoroughly, 

 and with a fair regard to speed, should be set as the 

 standard of excellence. 



To produce hardy, stocky plants with short jointed, 

 tolid wood, a half-inch shift is preferable to a larger one. 

 This, while entailing more work, saves a good deal of 

 room, which, during the next two months will be espe- 

 cially valuable. Wlien plants arc shifted from a 2-inch 

 to a 3 1-2 inch pot they require no drainage. The bulk 

 of the soil added is so small that, pro\-iding the soil is 

 properly packed and the material upon which they are 

 set is free from mud, there is no danger of souring. 



As there is so little room around the ball when a half- 

 inch shift is practiced, the soil should be finely pulver- 

 ized before using. Also the ball should be disturbed as 

 little as possible, simply rubbing off the sharp edges 

 around the upper part and placing it in the pot so that 

 the surface of the ball bears the same relation to the 

 new as it did to the old pot, leaving ample room for 

 water. It is safest to use no fertilizing material at this 

 time, avoiding particularly bone meal and all nitrates. 

 Soil left over from last season's planting should be of 

 about the right quality. 



When new pots are used particular care should be 

 taken with the first watering as they absorb so much of 

 the moisture tliat it is difficult to get the soil equally 



moist. The best v.'ay, perhaps, is to water lightly and 

 frequently until this is accomplished. Pots which have 

 been previously used should be thoroughly washed out- 

 side and in, and allowed to become dry before using. 



After repotting the stock should be returned to the 

 I'.ouse witiiout delay and not allowed to stand around in 

 the potting shed, where there is always more or less 

 draught, which is very injurious. By giving the young 

 plants plenty of room, it is easier to keep spider in 

 check and is beneficial to the stock by admitting more 

 light and freer circulation of air among the foliage. 



Young stock, by reason of its soft growing condition, 

 is very susceptible to mildew, and precaution should be 

 taken against this pest by keeping the heating pipes 

 painted with the sulphur mixture, and paying particular 

 attention to the ventilation. During the process of re- 

 potting is a good time to discard any diseased plants that 

 may have escaped the grower's notice while on the bench. 

 Disease is ever ready to communicate itself to other 

 plants, and if allowed to take its course, will, in an in- 

 credibly short time, work havoc in a batch of young 

 stock. • 



Watering young plants in pots is a very tedious oper- 

 ation, if done properly, and to obtain the best results re- 

 quires good judgment and lots of patience. Many dry 

 out quicker than the rest and should be watered as soon 

 as this becomes apparent, as they are very sensitive to 

 drying out. If a reputation for good stock is desired, 

 careful work and careful elimination of all ailing and 

 weak plants must be practiced at repotting time. 



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