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HORTICULTUKE 



July 27, 1912 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



QuestloLs by our readers in Une 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 o£Bce of HORTICULTURE. 



Requisite Damping 



The determination of the amount of moisture required 

 in the various houses is no small factor towards ultimate 

 success. This with 101 other things which all come un- 

 der the same head cannot be set down in black and white 

 with a stated amount for certain periods of growth or for 

 a certain length of time — not even with two houses grow- 

 ing the same kind of fruits. These two houses may be 

 located in different sections and each will have some 

 little peculiarities, all its own. There are houses which 

 lie damp; otJiers are the reverse. Heating mains will 

 sometimes account for this, elevation at other times is 

 responsible and the drainage of the houses themselves 

 will also furnish variation. The quantity of heating 

 pipes, too, will have something to say in the matter. 

 Through the summer time, when not in use so often, a 

 house containing a quantity of heating pipes is going to 

 be dryer than one that has only half the number pro- 

 viding other conditions are the same because the pipes 

 themselves will attract so much more sunheat. 



Fruit houses claim an additional thought on the mois- 

 ture problem as they do on the temperature. The varia- 

 tion is greater than the majority of plant houses — from 

 a humidity of the tropics down to fire heat to keep the 

 atmosphere as dry as possible — tliis all in one year. The 

 one extreme we find when trying to persuade trees to 

 break, and at times up to the flowering period, the other 

 with fruit ripe and efforts being made to keep it in a 

 good condition. As no set rule can be laid down each 

 house must become a study — the nasal organ playing a 

 prominent part. At this time of year, where in some 

 instances the fires are stopped off for the summer months, 

 no houses will need the usual damping at quitting time, 

 unless it happens to be a hot and dry day. Inclement 

 atmospheric conditions for a whole day will almost debar 

 inside damping. This and the fire heat must always be 

 taken into consideration and the scale fixed on it. 



Timing 



This may not be a very appropriate time to discuss 

 the timing of crops. The spring is when one looks to it 

 more, yet not a week passes but what some seeds are 

 sown or some trees started so it is really an "evergreen" 

 subject. The winter vegetables will soon be engaging 

 our attention. Tn every instance when making the sow- 

 ing we have to figure when that crop will be in under 

 ordinary conditions; successions have to be made, crops 

 edged so that all do not mature at once. What time and 



profit would be lost if forethought were not utilized! 

 Forethought sees a house today, cleaned and planted up 

 with partly grown plants out of pots tomorrow. The 

 gardener who has only a certain season to provide for or 

 one in which most is expected must so arrange his crops 

 so as to be within the required time. Special occasions 

 call for an extra amount of produce. This is where one 

 has to do some tall thinking. 'Tis true a week can be 

 drawn on or off but a right start beats all. Houses 

 started the same time each year should ripen about the 

 same date under ordinary cultivation. A hurry-up or- 

 der on a half-developed crop will be apt to put the usual 

 routine out of commission. Here is where the advan- 

 tage of reference boards come in, which have been re- 

 ferred to previously. By keeping them correctly en- 

 tered up you can see exactly how the crop stands with 

 other years and figure with a greater degree of certainty 

 on the date of ripening. 



Mulching 



This subject was dealt with in issue of May 25th at 

 which time probably only a light mulch was given to late 

 vines, the crop at that time being young. This will have 

 worn away with successive waterings and should be 

 augmented by an addition of half decayed cow manure. 

 Do not mulch to excess or the border will seldom dry out. 

 Use the necessary precautions when applying it as de- 

 tailed in issue of May 25th. 



Figs 



Continue to give figs all the attention needed to pro- 

 duce the late crop. Nearly a repetition of preceding 

 events — the house perchance will not want closing down 

 in the afternoon, as the early crops did; in fact it is wise 

 to gradually harden the trees until they stand full air 

 at all times. The fruit of this last crop will not be so 

 elegant in size as its predecessors, yet the flavor will be 

 quite equal. Keep a wary eye open for thrips or red 

 spider and do not let the foliage become crowded. Use 

 the usual stopping method and give the trees liberal 

 feeding. Figs relish green manures. Small trees in 

 pots or tubs can be transferred to the open tubs. If 

 these have been growing in any partially shaded position, 

 tliey should be shaded through the hottest hours of the 

 day until they become hardened to the sun. For a time 

 they will dry out frecjuently, the additional air being the 

 chief cause of this. Look all such trees over at least 

 three times daily until they are accustomed to their new 

 surroundings and atmospheric conditions. 



anthers give a pleasing charm of gaiety to the flowers. 

 When looking intently on this lily it would seem to say, 

 "I am a joyous sun child, glorying in my beauty and 

 vigor. Your winter frosts and droughts I laugli to 

 scora, but I like your country and intend to stay and 

 colonize. I care not if churls call me vain or egotistical. 

 My beauty is more than skin deep and who sees me 

 wishes to possess me. I am no fickle jade or whim of 

 fashion but a blushing beauty constant to my deity, the 

 sun ; a mountain child carried from my wild home some 

 half a world away, yet I do not repine since now a wider 



field is mine in which to accomplish my work of spread- 

 ing joy and happiness among you all." 



• Note — This is the name by which this Lily is generally known 

 nnd under which it is figured in the Botanical Magazine (t. 8102), 

 but it is very doubtful if this is the plant so-named by Monseiur 

 Franchet in .Tourn. de Bot., VI., p. 313. It these doubts are 

 ultimately substantiated, a new name will be necessary and in 

 that ease I propose that it be called LUlum regale — E. H. W. 



