862 



HORTICULTURE 



December 20, 1913 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDCCTKP BY 



i>trr^, 



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 ofBce of HORTICULTURE. 



Planting Vines 



Prior to planting in the borders all vinqs are grown 

 in pots from which they can be removed at any season 

 if due care is given them. It is not wise to transfer 

 them during the growing season for not only is there a 

 big risk of burning, etc., but the roots have to be left 

 cramped up just as they were in the pot. This is not 

 a desirable way to have them. Although they will make 

 other roots through the border it is by far the best to 

 have the first strong roots spread out near the surface. 

 The age of deep planting of the vine has passed. It is 

 TecogTiized by all that it was a mistake to bury them 

 away down deep, the reason for which is very plain. 

 Have the roots near the surface and all feed that 

 is given them can be used without having to 

 wait for it to work its way down through a 

 quantity of soil. To get the roots straightened 

 out will be quite a job if not gone about right. It 

 is an easy matter to shake the soil off some things that 

 have roots of no great length but it is surprising how 

 long the roots of a well grown vine are, even in a small 

 pot. If you attempt to shake these out some are sure to 

 get broken. The only way to accomplish the job with 

 a minimum of breakage is to wash out the soil and 

 straighten out the roots at the same time. Soak the ball 

 first and then force the water into it which will take 

 little time to remove most of it. The network of roots 

 must then be worked out carefully with the fingers. 

 When ready for planting take off the top soil about four 

 inches deep and spread the roots out evenly similar to 

 the branches of a peach tree. Be very careful when 

 placing the soil on them as any roughness will nulify 

 all the pains that have been taken. Use the finest soil 

 that is to be found first so that it will get down between 

 the fine roots. If there is a quantity near the bottom of 

 the cane shake the whole thing which will cause some 

 soil to work down. Do not plant too close to the wall ; 

 remember the cane will soon be a rod of some size and 

 leave plenty of room for this expansion. Ram over the 

 border before it is watered. 



Planting Peach and Nectarine Trees 



What has been said al)out planting a vine applies to 

 the planting of peach and nectarine trees. These are 

 not always grown in pots ; some are trained as they grow 

 in the open gi'ound and generally they have better roots 

 for planting than pot grown stuff. These will have 

 been chopped off with a spade or shovel and to ensure 

 their healing up at an early date cut them again with a 

 sharp knife. These subjects will have mucli shorter roots 

 than the vine at the time of planting but the same care 

 is required and the same method adopted to free them 

 from the soil and the maze of network formed by the 

 roots in a pot. 



Stem Troubles of Melons 



To those who do not have to combat these troubles all 

 the following will seem unnecessary. There are some 

 soils and localities that seem endowed with just the right 

 ingredients to grow melons to perfection without any 

 trouble whatever. Tlien, on the other hand, there are 

 those soils of a very different character and something 

 or another seems to crop up from time to time to worry 

 the grower. I know of an instance where two estates 

 joining each other furnished these very conditions be- 

 tween them. It was no trouble to grow melons on the 

 (ine while the neighbor had all the trouble that was pos- 

 sible. No, you could not say it was the way they were 

 handled for the same thing has prevailed for years with 

 different men handling them. Personally I put it down 

 to the soil, but after several more years of experience I 

 would like to try them over again. The old proverb 

 says "Never trouble trouble until trouble troubles you." 

 Another one we all know is "never look for trouble" but 

 where stem trouble prevails I would suggest we do look 

 out and use all the preventives we know of. In the first 

 place, my opinion is that some' of it is brought on by 

 planting too deep either when repotting or planting in 

 the border. Do not bury the ball a fraction of an inch 

 if it can be helped for while a few more roots will grow 

 out of that portion of the stem between the seed leaf and 

 the top of the seed pot they will be worthless if the stem 

 goes wrong. At this season of the year the advantage 

 of planting on the small mounds will be demonstrated 

 for it will keep the stem drier than if it were planted on 

 a level border. Do not water over these stems in dull 

 weather, which will keep it dry excepting when syring- 

 ing. If the first two or three whorls of leaves are grad- 

 ually cut away so that the sun's rays may play on the 

 stem it will seldom go wrong and if it does in dull 

 weather it is the very best thing to dry it up when we 

 do get sunlight. If decay sets in during one of the dull 

 spells (these are generally the times it shows up) scrape 

 off the decayed portion down to good tissue with a piece 

 of wood which has been made to resemble a knife. This 

 is better than using a knife especially if it is caught in 

 time. Bad cases can have the decay cut out to half the 

 stem and they will generally heal. After removing this 

 decay rub in some newly slacked lime with the finger; 

 ibis will help to dry it up. Doubtful cases can have 

 some lime blown on to them which will often be enoiigh 

 to arrest the progress of further decay. A close watch 

 should be kept at this time of year or some plants will 

 be lost. Rose growers are up against it at times but 

 there is nothing more perplexing than to get stem 

 trouble in a melon house and know at the same time 

 there is a little spider getting ahead. Add to this sev- 

 eral days dull weather — cold perhaps making a quantity 

 of fire heat necessary and consequently more moisture is 

 needed — and you may be excused for scratching what 

 may someday he n "liald pate." 



