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HORTICULTUKE 



November 8, 1913 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDCCTED BY 



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Queations by our readers in line with any of tUe topics presented on this page will be cordially received and promptly answucd 

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



Cleaning the Early Vinery 



After the vines have been pruned lose no time in 

 pushing through the cleaning of the house, following 

 this up witli the cleaning of the vines and general reno- 

 vation of the borders. There's a time limit on this job 

 if you mean to start up on December 1st and not only 

 should this be an incentive to have the work completed 

 at the earliest possible date, but the vines will be ben- 

 efited by being allowed to stand awhile after the over- 

 hauling before they are started up. Have the house 

 thoroughly washed down from stem to stem, woodwork, 

 glass, walls, etc.; every nook and corner should yield 

 up all the live stock (in many varied forms) and all 

 dust and dirt accumulated during the past season. This 

 will be time well spent for to start up a house that is 

 not clean is surely seeking trouble. 



Next comes the cleaning of the vines and here let 

 me say it may be a job that will take very little time 

 and work or be one that needs considerable attention — 

 one of the elastic sort. The scraping of the vine does 

 it absolutely no good. It is not to benefit the vine that 

 it is practised but to make the pests that are now in- 

 festing them more accessible and to leave no hiding and 

 breeding places for them to harbor in through next 

 season. With this in mind it follows that the state of 

 the vines now should regulate the amount of cleaning 

 to be done. If your vines have been clean and free 

 from pests during the past season or seasons it is rea- 

 sonable to expect with the same amount of care they 

 will come through in the same good condition in the 

 seasons to come. Such vines as these only need the 

 rough and loose bark rubbed off with the hand. Now 

 for the other extreme and the go-betweens can be 

 ganged. Mealy bug (does the name give you a shiver?) 

 and the much abused red spider are the two pests that 

 are continually forcing their acquaintance upon us and 

 were it not for these much of this work would be elim- 

 inated. By removing all the loose bark from the main 

 rod and particularly from around the spurs most of 

 the hiding places of these intruders will be exposed, 

 malving it easy for the washings of insecticides to do 

 their work. When mealy bug has once got firmly estab- 

 lished they will not be eliminated in one season. After 

 all the work of cleaning and washing it is a hundred-to- 

 one chance on a few finding a way out of it all and if 

 these are not cared for all the winter work will be 

 wasted. Where they come from is a mystery but facts are 

 stubborn things and the fact is they come. Winter washes 

 for vines are very numerous, most growers having some 

 preparation that they think supercedes all others; they 

 range from almost mud to neat insecticide. The 

 former preparations are used with the idea of filling 

 up the cracks and crevices so that the bug has no place 

 for seclusion. My experience has shown that this is all 

 right for a time but when the hot sun comes it will 

 crack anyhow. Better to use some insecticide that you 

 know will kill bug, using it very strong, painting the 

 vine completely over with it two or three times, except- 

 ing the eyes. A fumigation with cyanide of potassium 



while the vines are dormant will also be an additional 

 germ killer. 



The border will be the next to receive attention. It 

 is wise to remove all the loose bark, etc., before this is 

 touched but if the rods are to have more than one wash- 

 ing it is not necessary to wait imtil this is completed 

 before starting on the border. Young vineries may 

 need additions, others are to have a thorough over- 

 hauling and some a top dressing only. Whatever it is 

 have the soil on the dry side when working it. Mix in 

 some coarse bone meal with the soil for top dressing. 



Protecting the Soil From Freezing 



Mention of liaving the soil in a workable condition in 

 the foregoing note reminds us of the soil heaps not pro- 

 tected from frost. For ordinary potting purposes many 

 places have a shed or some kind of a building where a 

 sufficient quantity can be stored until spring where it 

 will not freeze up or become wet. Where a quantity is 

 needed for the fruit houses this is impossible so we 

 have to protect it outside so that it can be used in the 

 worst weather. There will be lots of leaves to remove 

 from the lawns, etc., yet, and these will make a fine 

 protection for the soil heaps. Cover the heap over to a 

 sufficient depth to keep out frost and then cover the 

 whole with long-straw manure to prevent the leaves 

 from blowing away. If any kind of a temporary roof 

 can be put on before any of the protective material it 

 will help to keep the soil much dryer, a fact that cannot 

 be over-estimated. 



Asparagus and Rhubarb for Forcing 



These are two of the most valued roots for forcing. 

 They will start much easier if they have felt the effects 

 of a little frost. The first batch or two can be lifted 

 and placed in an exposed position with only enough 

 loose straw around the roots to prevent them from dry- 

 ing. In this position they will feel the early frosts 

 more than if thty were in the soil at their natural 

 depth. I-ook them over occasionally as the roots 

 should not be allowed to become real dry. 



Christmas Melons 



To be right on time these melons should be set about 

 now and kept going right along. Soon after the last 

 flower has been fertilized give them some feed or they 

 may get starved out; the soil they are growing in may 

 be getting weaker and one of the secrets of getting good 

 melons is to get them started good. Reduce the crop to 

 two fruits to a plant. Warm them up well and with sun 

 heat in the afternoons, thoroughly damping down at the 

 time. Syringing must be kept up every bright morning 

 or the plants will be eaten up with spider, but it will 

 not be wise to practice it in the afternoons as the plants 

 will not dry up by night time. Wet plants as night 

 comes on are trouble seekers. If there are roots showing 

 on the surface, top-dress them lightly with rich soil and 

 keep this up while the fruit is swelling and the roots 

 keep coming through. 



