584 



HORTICULTURE 



October 19, 1912 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BT 



i>(Tirs^. 



Qoeatlona bj oar readen In Une with any of the topics presented on tbis page will be cordially recelred and promptlT answered 

 b7 Mr. Penson. Snch communications should Invariably be addressed to the office of HORTICULTDRB. 



Storing in Fruit House 



Under this lieading it was hoped to pen a few lines 

 before the articles in these columns ceased for a few 

 weeks. As they were omitted at that time, (perhaps a 

 more appropriate time than the present), we will lead 

 off with it now. It is a question which always presents 

 itself every fall, that of storing tender flowering shrubs 

 which have been growing outside all the summer, away 

 from the early frosts. The dormant fruit houses are 

 sometimes looked upon as the spot and until cleaning 

 time comes along, no objection can lie entertained, yet 

 there is a danger often overlooked — that of bringing in 

 live stock — bugs, etc., on to the vines. A vinery with 

 bugs once established is always a source of trouble and 

 no little care should be exercised to keej) them clean. 

 No matter how little any plants may have on them, and 

 although it may be a dormant season, there are sure to 

 be a few left behind ; settlers, colonials, aliens, or green- 

 horns, call "em what you like, they are usually there to 

 stay and to make trouble. Xow this is a problem to 

 think about ; such trees must be stored as soon as there 

 is danger of severe frosts, and just where to store them 

 is the question. Xo objection may be raised to storing 

 them for a time in the fruit houses, if they are clean, 

 but should any be infected with any kind of aphis it 

 will be well to consider the after effects — labor entailed 

 eradicating possible pests. 



Pot Vines 



Pot vines intended to produce the first crop of grapes 

 in the coming year should now be ripened up in every. 

 possible way. The maximum of weather should be 

 brought to bear on them by placing them in a fully ex- 

 posed position, where they will get all the sun possiblo 

 through the day and feel the cold evenings and early 

 frosts at night. In this way the wood will he thoroughly 

 ripened, the buds will be good and solid and the canes 

 will soon be at rest, all of which helps to spell success 

 later. When the canes have east their foliage, remove 

 the short growths which have been made by stopping the 

 laterals at one eye, using a sharp knife to do so, making 

 a clean cut which should receive a dressing of "styptic" 

 to prevent bleeding at the time of starting. Incline the 

 roots to the dry side but avoid a dust-dry state or some 

 of the valuable fibrous roots will be lost. 



Figs 



Pigs are among our tenderest subjects and should not 

 be subjected to any severe frosts ; a few degrees will not 

 hurt them — in fact will be beneficial. Any trees grow- 

 ing in pots or tubs, which are now going through the 

 renovating process, should be placed on one end of the 

 block, so that they can be ea.sily removed to shelter iipon 



the approach of cold weather. Pig trees planted out in 

 the liouses should be treated similarly; leave the house 

 open until five or six degrees of frost is registered when 

 precautions should be taken to check a further decrease 

 of temperature; otherwise the first crop for next year 

 and .some of the growths may be damaged. 



Pot Fruit Trees 



Pot fruit trees of all kinds will now be casting their 

 foliage and should lie thoroughly overhauled, pruned, 

 repotted and prepared for winter quarters. Where a 

 quantity of trees have to be dealt with it is best to erect 

 a temporary potting bench in some convenient spot out- 

 side. The less the trees are shifted around the better 

 at this time of year as the buds are easily rubbed off, 

 especially so with peaches and nectarines. Carrying 

 them to and from the potting shed, through doors, etc., 

 is always to be avoided if possible ; then again head 

 room is often limited. All this can be alleviated by the 

 erection of a temporary bench if sufficient trees are on 

 hand to justify this little extra time being spent. Thu 

 pots having been got in readiness previously must no\\- 

 be properly drained. This is an essential point: later 

 on in the growing season a water-logged pot is deplor- 

 able. The soil should consist of half-decayed loam, witli 

 plenty of lime rubble or plaster liroken up small, mixed 

 into it. Pruning will be light if the trees were properly 

 disbudded, but it will be wise to look them over, remov- 

 ing any dead wood and also that which is too crowded 

 for another sea.son. In handling the trees special care 

 should be taken of base growths, these are so easily 

 broken, and in a few j'ears the trees will look like stand- 

 ards. Trees which have had rims added to the pot to 

 allow of top dressing will need to have these removed 

 and the only disadvantage to them will be discovered, 

 viz., a quantity of surface roots will have found their 

 way up and when it comes to repotting they are found 

 to be too high. After throwing off the pot remove the 

 old crocks and as much of the bottom soil as possible; 

 shake oft' all the top dressing, carefully preserving all 

 the fibrous roots and' remove all the top soil you can. 

 Trees that have made a quantity of roots will have to be 

 given a shift, but do not give it unless absolutely neces- 

 sary. If a sufficient quantity of the old soil can be re- 

 moved from the ball to allow of its going back into the 

 same size pot, put it back again. If a shift is necessary 

 make it as small as you can for there is no advantage in 

 rushing the trees on into very large pots or tubs. Pro- 

 portionately no more fruit is oi)tained and they are more 

 easily handled in a smaller pot. When potting, the soil 

 must be worked down thoroughly and rammed firm be- 

 tween the ball and pot. This is sometimes a difficult 

 job with only a small space to fill, nevertheless no holes 

 must be left, in anticipation of the best results. A full 

 compliment of rammers will be needed — large and small, 

 thin and thick : some pots will cause you to use four or 

 five, each a different size and shape. These trusted 

 weapons of the potting bench will improve with age, 

 especially to the hand that is using them, as use wear.s 

 the rough corners off. See that thev are stored away 



