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HOETICULTURE 



Oetober 18, 1913 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



rONDCCTED BT 



i>^hr^^^ 



QuestloDS by our readers In line with any of the tuples presented on this page will be cordluUy received and promptly answered 

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



Repotting Fruit Trees 



This is a job that should now be pushed through. 

 Soon after the leaves assume their autumn tints is the 

 best time to repot or remove fruit trees. There is little 

 danger of buds dropping or any other mishap if they 

 receive ordinary care after being overhauled at this 

 season. Where only a very limited number are grown 

 the job will not occupy much time but where they are 

 numbered by the hundred it is quite a consideration. It 

 always pays to erect a temporary bench close to where 

 the trees are plunged in preference to carrying them 

 into the potting shed where probably head room is lim- 

 ited with doors and other obstacles have to be reckoned 

 with. The less the trees are moved around the better it 

 is for them (and also for those who are responsible for 

 the moving of them). The moving question is often the 

 cliief cause of so many trees losing their bottom limbs. 

 After amassing considerable weight they are not the 

 handiest of things to move around and often we find that 

 the bottom branches have been broken. It may be found 

 very awkward to hold up a large tree growing in a pot or 

 tub so that the pot or tub can be removed. This can be 

 overcome by looping a piece of soft rope around the base 

 of the mafin stem and passing a carrying bar through the 

 other end. Let one end of the bar rest on the bench and if 

 the rope is of proper length, by lifting on the other end 

 of the bar the tree, pot and all, will be suspended in the 

 air and removal will be easy. It will be found that the 

 bar has to be passed through the center of the tree and 

 not on one side of it or a number of brandies will surely 

 be broken. 



The drainage of either pots or tubs is of the greatest 

 importance. As no great quantity can be used it must 

 be put in the most scientific way to pass all the water. 

 Use broken pots for all drainage where they are to be 

 had. If scarce use one large crock over the hole of the 

 pot and some broken bricks on the top and sides of it. 

 These crocks must be placed so that the hollow side is 

 underneath. It sliould be understood that all pots used 

 for this work slinuld lie sound, clean and dry as if other- 



wise there will be great difficulty in getting them out 

 next fall. 



The soil should be of the best half decayed loam with 

 plenty of lime rubble and charcoal mixed into it to keep 

 it open after being rammed so hard. L^t this opening 

 material pass; through the inch seive before using. If 

 the soil is any way poor add a little bone meal. Mix 

 this thoroughly and see that the rough material does not 

 go all in the same place but is evenly distributed 

 through(uit. Do not rush the trees into large pots or 

 tubs right away but give them only one size larger pot 

 each year or replace them in the same size that they have 

 come out of. This is done by reducing the ball with a 

 I'.and cultivator. Trees that are a mass of roots will not 

 allow this and must have a shift. Take a little of the 

 old soil off the top of the ball whercever it is possible 

 and also off the sides. These hard-wooded trees cannot 

 l)e potted too hard if the soil has sufficient open material 

 in it and is fairly dry when being used. Never pot with 

 a soil that is on the wet side. Rammers of all sizes 

 will be needed during the potting according to the size 

 of the shift. They must be narrow enough to pass be- 

 tween the ball and the side of the pot and reach right 

 down to the bottom. Only a small amount of soil can 

 be worked down at a time; if a large amount is at- 

 tempted the chances are that the bottom will not be 

 reached and a cavity will be left instead of having the 

 soil completely round the ball. After potting is com- 

 pleted remove them to a convenient place with an ash 

 bottom which will help to keep nut the worms. A little 

 soot sprinkled over the crocks will prevent worms from 

 coming in for some time. Have the trees watered soon 

 after potting and sec that this is a thorough watering 

 for any dryness at the roots from the time they are 

 potted until they arc in flower will be disastrous for the 

 flower buds will drop very ea.sily. During bright 

 weather syringe the trees over each morning, say about 

 eleven o'clock. It will be noticed that at this time of 

 year if there is no frost there will be a hea^'y dew which 

 accounts for leaving the syringing until later. Have all 

 dry about four o'clock. 



OUTDOOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 



"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many 



things; 

 Of ships and shoes and sealing-wax. of cabbaRes and 

 kings." — Lewis Carroll. 



Miscellaneous 



Among the "many things" is fall spraying of all kinds 

 of fruit trees. Spraying at this season is not given half 

 the consideration that it deserves. It has "got some- 

 thing on" spring spraying in more ways than one. First, 

 inasmuch as the rush of work is not near so pressing as 

 in spring and therefore the job is more likely to be done 

 and to be done more tlioronghlv. Secondly, because if 



scale (be it San Jose or oyster shell) be killed now, 

 some of the trees' vitality will be conserved which would 

 else have been used in. keeping these parasites alive till 

 s])ring. 



.'\.s soon as the leaves are fallen is the time and 

 then give two good sprayings to all fruit trees including 

 the small fruits, such as currants and raspberries if San 

 Jose scale is bad in your vicinity. TTsc one of the oil 

 sprays or lime-sulphur as convcnicMit, and after that 

 follow with caustic potash which will destroy all nests of 

 caterpillars' eggs or any other insect eggs. This caustic 

 wash is prepared as follows: To make ten gallons of 



