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HORTICULTURE 



December 27, 19i:' 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDCCTKD BT 



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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 addresjsed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



The Pot-Tree House 



The buds will be swelling on the trees that have been 

 given a few weeks' treatment in this house. Advance 

 the temperature accordingly so that by the time they are 

 in flower 50 to 55 degrees will be recorded through the 

 night with the corresponding advance through the day. 

 As soon as tlie buds show signs of expanding the tem- 

 perature can be allowed to run up several degrees higher 

 with sun heat — 75 will not be too hot providing a good 

 crack of air is on at the time. This is only meant to 

 apply for the few days that it takes for the buds to show 

 color after the first signs of growth are detected. Do 

 not let the atmosphere get anywhere near dry; fine 

 mist-like sprays will always help to promote growth. 

 Look over the pots daily, watering them as they need 

 it; there are sure to be some to dry out, now that the 

 roots are in action. 



Peach Bods Dropping 



Some gardeners are shy on root-pruning in the fall be- 

 cause of the ill effect on the flower buds — many, they 

 will claim, are apt to fall after it. This is not due to 

 the root pruning — that is if it was properly carried out. 

 With proper care any number of peach or nectarine trees 

 can be root-pruned just as severely as any other tree or, 

 in other words, as hard as is advisable and never drop 

 a bud. The chief factor in causing buds to drop is 

 dryness at the roots either at the time of root-pruning 

 or since. Not only does this refer to trees that have 

 been root-pruned but also to trees that are growing in 

 borders that dry out easily. We know there are some 

 borders that never would dry out from the fall until 

 plenty of growth is on the trees again in the following 

 spring, a fact that cannot nullify the existence of the 

 first mentioned. See that all borders are kept moist 

 through the dormant season, especially those trees that 

 were root-pruned. An additional preventive can 

 also be used in the form of an occasional syringing. 

 Three or four times a week the trees can be syringed 

 over with cold water which will help to keep the buds 

 soft. Let the water be quite cool and then the trees will 

 feel the difference when they cotne to be started and 

 warm water used. 



Knots 



While having the peach tree in mind I will record 

 what occurred to me a few days prior to writing the 

 article on tying peach trees in the issue of December 

 13th which was overlooked at the time of writing. It is 

 the matter of knots. Of course there are knots and 

 knots — some that are easily tied and likewise untied, 

 others that require the latter part of the last sentence 

 reversed, big knots and little knots, some that you tie 

 with your tongue which cannot be undone with the 

 teeth; these, and many others can also be recorded but 

 the one I had in mind was what we always knew as a 

 "granny knot." Perhaps you never heard of it but you 

 must know it all the same. It is one that comes undone 



before the job is through, or in the .case of tying up 

 boxes, etc., it needs five or six body guards to stay around 

 all the time or it will give out. What looks worse than 

 a bunch of knots where one should do the work? In 

 tying i)eaeh trees of course a chance will be taken on 

 almost any kind of knot. Some are sure to stay but why 

 not get a reliable one into your fingers, one that will 

 •'stick around." Seldom will two men use exactly the 

 same way of making ties and it is difficult to alter one's 

 ways M'lieii once established but get the habit early of 

 making one that will stick and also be quicklf made. 



Fig: Houses 



Fig houses should be put into shape without delay. 

 The pruning of the trees will be done on exactly the 

 same lines as the peach or nectarine tree. There will be 

 no real flower buds to be considered but on close ex- 

 amination it will be found that there are many Tcry tiny 

 fruits waiting io develop on last year's wood, making 

 it advisable to retain all of this there is room for. The 

 size of the foliage must be considered as it does not pay 

 to crowd it ; a freer hand with the knife can be used on 

 the fig tree than any other. Always leave room for and 

 encourage young wood from the base as this is the future 

 of the tree. Let the house have the usual cleaning, top 

 dressing, etc., prior to tjnng the trees back on the trellis. 

 Should the surface soil be full of roots do not remove it 

 by force at the expense of breaking the roots; rather 

 remove any not having roots into it and then add a top- 

 dressing to level the border off. Figs make surface 

 roots very easily. 



King; George Melon 



111 August 23rd issue I made reference to tJiis new 

 melon stating what it had done for us here up to date. 

 As an experiment we tried three plants in the house that 

 was sown 1st of September for Xmas crop which 

 have turned out much better than we anticipated. It 

 grew much freer than we expected it to, making growth 

 equal to that of the summer; the weakening sun power 

 evidently suited it. We are led to believe a light shading 

 on the glass will be a benefit to it through the summer 

 months. It is certainly a fine fruit when you get it 

 right. 



Winter Packing 



The packing of fruit through the winter time will 

 take a little more care than at other times of the year. 

 See that additional linings are put in to keep out the 

 frost. Old newsjjapers will answer the purpose. 



Happy New Year 



A few more days and Father Time will have ushered 



1913 into the past, gone but not forgotten. Those who 

 at its coming were superstitious enough to fear the '13 

 hoodoo have had little cause to complain, for from all 

 indications 1913 has been a prosperous year. Now as 



1914 draws near may it liring Happiness and Prosperity 

 to Horticulture and all its readers. 



