566 



HORTICULTUEE 



October 26, 1912 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



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Qneatlona b; oar readera In line wltb any of the topics presented on tbU page will be cordially recelred and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Penaon. Snch comniunlcatlons sbould Invariably be addressed to the office of BORTICULTGKEl. 



Late Vineties 



Late viiifrics will lif ileinanding the most attention in 

 this section at the present time, from a growing point 

 of view, .yet the work to be done from now or in tlie 

 doi-mant houses is just as important. The majority of 

 late grapes will be finished by this time; perhaps Gros 

 Colman or Barbarossa, otherwise Gros Giiillaume, will 

 still put on a little more color, the former especially 

 being a delinquent in acquiring Nature's "paint." Wiere 

 this is needed give them all the sun possible for another 

 week or two, by tying back any leaves which may shade 

 them. With fruit hanging ripe a reduction in the tem- 

 perature can be made — 50 to 55 being quite hot enough. 

 From now on at no time should the heating pipes be 

 allowed to become hot; sooner let the heat drop a few 

 degrees. Excessive fire heat causes berries to shrivel 

 quicker than anything else. Airing is just as important 

 now as at other times. During mild clear weather the 

 vines cannot have too much air. It is the cloudy, wet or 

 cold weather which brings out the "reserves." When 

 such conditions exist, keep the heating pipes nicely warm, 

 not hot, and never shut a house entirely down unless 

 abnormal weather conditions compel it. A crack of air 

 to the leeward and gentle warmth in the pipes brings 

 that dry and fresh atmosphere best suited for keeping 

 grapes in good condition. Little moisture is needed at 

 the roots, but no border must be allowed to become abso- 

 lutely dry. Any watering which has to be done from 

 now on must be got through by noon, and always choose 

 a clear day in which to do it. This gives the atmos- 

 phere a chance to dry up a little, and a few days longer 

 wait cannot hurt at this time of year. Go over the 

 bundles at least twice a week to remove any damaged or 

 decayed berries. 



Mice and rats will now be seeking winter quarters, 

 and how they do appreciate fruit houses with access to 

 some still having fruit hanging! Could these visitors be 

 induced to clean up each bunch as they go on they would 

 be excused a little, but their delight is to taste all; the 

 best bunches are always visited and the shoulders rav- 

 aged. It is no use to say how to destroy them — every- 

 one knows how to kill a mouse (when you can). One 

 thing sure — be rid of them right soon, or you will soon 

 be minus a good portion of berries.' 



Strawbei-ries 



Very little time is left now in which strawberries can 

 be asked to grow. Until severe frosts set in they will 

 always swell the crown a little, in which case a little 

 ouick-acting feed can always be given. No harm is done 

 by feeding right up to the time they are taken to their 

 winter quarters. Little syringing will be needed now; 

 occasionally the plants must be looked over and watered ; 

 always bear in mind the pots are filled out with strong 

 healthy roots. Preparations can be made for plunging 

 as soon as the weather breaks. 



Early Vinery 



The heating pipes in this house should always have a 

 valve on the flow and return pipes, which allows them 



to be emptied out at this season, and with the house wide 

 open it is kept as cool as possible. There is little danger 

 nf the pipes freezing up, should the thermometer regis- 

 ter a few degrees of frosts for a few hours during the 

 night. The greatest objection to having the pipes full of 

 water with no value on the return is that the warm 

 water will back up the return, and thus cause the house 

 to be a little warmer than it would were they empty, 

 lip to the time of starting, which is probably Dec. 1st, 

 this house ought to be kept as cool as it possibly can, to 

 enable the vines to get all the rest possible. Do all 

 ])runing immediately after all the leaves are down. 



Christmas Melons 



Plants sown September 1st will now be in flower. No 

 difficulty should be experienced in setting them. Keep 

 the house a little drier around the noon time and fer- 

 tilize all female flowers as they open. It is folly to wait 

 for two or three flowers to open at one time during the 

 winter months. Give the plants all the air possible which 

 will help to strengthen them. Good robust plants soon 

 after setting are those which produce the best fruits. 

 Two fruits to a plant will make a crop from now on 

 until early spring. When these have been set and are 

 seen to be swelling the remaining flowers can be re- 

 moved and every encouragement given to the fruit. A 

 light top drssing will be beneficial, but do not add ;■ 

 quantity of soil at this season of the year as the smaller 

 quantity will dry out quicker. Close down early enough 

 to give the plants a good sweating and keep a night tem- 

 perature of 70 to 75 degrees. Guard against red spider, 

 by syringing briskly in favorable weather and fumigate 

 [leriodically to keep down green fl}^ etc. 



Tomatoes 



Tomatoes having the flrst two trusses of fruit set will 

 take a little feed but do not over do it if the plants are 

 in good shape. A little and often will be found to 

 answer best. Instances have been known where very 

 strong plants have failed to set a crop ; probably other 

 conditions have not been quite right and the strongest 

 plants failed. On close examination this shyness to set, 

 in extra strong growths or plants, seems to be more than 

 theory. Keep a buoyant atmosphere through the house 

 at all times, having it dijer about noon than at other 

 times, when the plants should have a shake to distribute 

 the pollen. The quantity of moisture to keep in a 

 tomato house is a question sometimes debated. As 

 houses vary so much no specific times for damping can be 

 laid down. Be governed by wjiat the atmosphere smells 

 like on entering a hoiise; avoid both extremes and take 

 care to have all dry before night. Tomatoes are queer 

 things to tie and in no matter what position they are 

 growing they must be brought to the stakes, etc., gradu- 

 ally. Always leave plenty of room in the tie as the 

 stems will swell considerably. Water the plants thor- 

 oughly whenever they are dry. Take particular care of 

 any corners or parts of the benches which may be near 

 the mains and dry out oftener than the other parts of 

 the bench. 



