March 25, 1911 



horticulture: 



395 



Fruits and Vegetables Under Glass 



MUSCAT VINES 



As we have advocated before, Muscat vines require 

 special treatment as compared with other vines, there- 

 fore a house should be devoted to them alone, if they 

 are to attain perfection. Muscats enjoy a liigher tem- 

 perature while growing, especially so while in flower. 

 A temperature of 65 to 70 by night is sufficient for 

 most vines while in ilower, but Muscats require 70 to 75 

 degrees, never below 70. Muscats, as a rule, being shy 

 setters every care should be taken to assist them. Thus 

 it is not advisable to include them in an early house. 

 Mid-season and even late houses suit them much better. 

 This enables a grower to get more assistance from na- 

 ture in the form of sunshine and air, both great factors, 

 for without either the chances of a good set on Muscats 

 are slim. If possible the same brush should be used on 

 Muscats as has been used on other free-setting varieties. 

 This will carry grains of pollen from the latter on to 

 the former and will answer the same purpose as their 

 own pollen, which oftentimes is scarce and is the chief 

 cause of a shy set. Some go so far as to plant a rod 

 of Hamburgh or Gros Colman in the same house, from 

 which to obtain pollen at time of setting. Muscat of 

 Alexandia can be classed as a late grape and grown afi 

 such, its keeping properties being good. Do not over- 

 crop at any time or shanking will result and eventually 

 ruin the vine. 



PACKING STRAWBERRIES 



After spending so much time and trouble to obtain 

 home-grown strawberries they cannot be packed by the 

 quart and shipped off to chance the knocks and bruises 

 which they will be sure to get before reaching their 

 destination. Each berry being perfect when gathered 

 special care is needed to place them on the table in the 

 same condition. Wooden boxes made to fit packing 

 trunks or other strong receptacles should be made deep 

 enough to carry one layer of berries when packed. Each 

 berry should first be wrapped in a piece of waxed paper 

 and then in cotton wool, filling up any loose spaces that 

 may be left with wool so as to pack the whole firm but 

 not hard. Berries should then turn out little worse for 

 their journey. For shipping the fruit should be gathered 

 on the hard side — i. e., before they are quite ripe. 



APPLES AND PEARS 



Trees which have set their fruit will require a night 

 temperature of 50. Any which have failed to set should 

 be removed and more room given to those remaining. 

 It is not advisable to be in a hurry to thin the fruit as 

 sometimes a quantity will drop themselves, being im- 

 perfectly fertilized (this is especially so with pears), 

 but where a cluster is on one spur they can be gradu- 

 ally reduced to three or four. Wlien reaching the final 

 thinning, later on, one fruit to a spur is sufficient. 



Plums and cherries will usually thin themselves down 

 to what they are able to carry. Should an over-abun- 

 dance be left after stoning is completed some can be re- 

 moved before the second swelling commences. Any 

 superfiuous growth bud can be gradually removed. 

 Syringe thoroughly morning and again in afternoon. 

 Keep a sharp lookout for fly, which is sure to make its 

 appearance. 



LATE PEACHES AND NECTARINES 



Trees which are intended to be kept back as late as 

 possible will now be coming into flower, despite all ef- 

 forts to retard them any longer. A night temperature 

 of 40 to 45 degrees by artificial means will suit them 

 and houses can still be opened up through the day, 

 keeping both flowers and growths hardy, but avoid cold 

 draughts. It will not be necessary to go over each 

 flower and fertilize it if the weather is good. Give the 

 trellis a few sharp knocks which will jar the flower 

 sufficiently to distribute the pollen. 



KITCHEN GARDEN 



Work in the kitchen garden will now be coming along 

 at a brisk rate. Endless rubbish will need clearing off — 

 prunings, mulchings, etc. Condition of the soil must 

 determine the advisability of working it. Sandy and 

 well-drained soil will be in a fit condition sooner than 

 lieavy land. It is a mistake to try to work land before 

 it is dry enough. The mere fact of walking on it packs 

 it down so hard that no air can possibly get to the roots 

 of growing stock later. A sheltered position can be 

 selected and made ready for a first sowing of peas 

 and planting of potatoes. As asparagus shows signs of 

 moving, a light dressing of salt will be beneficial. It 

 will not be advisable to risk any greenhouse-raised stock 

 for a few weeks yet, without making provision for pro- 

 tecting it from late frosts. 



*fe--v^ 



O 



-^0^r\^^ 



Somerville, N. J. 



Spring 



'Tis like the birthday of the world 



When Earth was born in bloom; 

 The light is made of many dyes, 



The air is all perfume. 



There's crimson hues, and white and blue, 



The very rainbow showers; 

 Have turned to blossoms where they fell, 



And sown the Earth with flowers. 



—Hood. 



^ When you read Horticulture don't skip the advertising pages. 

 A paper such as this would be impossible were it not for the 

 advertisers. If you are friendly to Horticulture we ask you to 

 patronize those who make it possible. 



