December 14, 1912 



HORTICULTURE 



813 



FRUIT AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CONDUCTED BY 



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QuestlOBS by our readers in line with any "f tlie topi<s presented '>n tliis pnge will be cordially reneived and promtply answered 

 by Mr. Penson. Suoli ccmniuniiations sliuuld invariably lie addressed to the oflioe of HORTICULTURE. 



Building Up a Vine 



Exactly how long we shall have to wait before we can 

 see the grapes hanging from all the wires is a question 

 often put to the grower. "Why can't we have grapes 

 right away the first year after planting, and why are 

 only a few bunches grown instead of covering the whole 

 thing with fruits?" '■\Miy was so much of the vine cut 

 away at the time of pruning ?" Who has not heard one 

 or all of these questions, the answer to which may be 

 found in the head-line? It is possible to cover all the 

 wires with fruit the second season and perhaps a third. 

 It is during tlie succeeding years the trouble will be 

 encountered probably in the form of shanking. 



Overcropping a young vine is a big mistake, it saps 

 all the vitality for years and some do not get over it at 

 all. Another thing is the desire of some to run the 

 vines up quickly, filling the house in a couple of sea- 

 sons; this, too, is a detriment to the constitution of 

 the vine. What is needed is a steady advance — each year 

 seeing an addition both of vine and number of bunches. 

 After planting the vine should be reduced to two eyes 

 and the first year given up to laying the foundation of 

 a good root action. This is promoted by encouraging 

 top growth. After a distance of four or five feet has 

 been covered by the single rod it can be pinched (or 

 stopped) and allowed to break into two or three growths 

 — enough to fill all the wires. In this way a large 

 breathing surface is secured. Leaving two eyes when 

 pruning after planting is only a safeguard in the event 

 of one being rubbed out or broken off. One is sufficient 

 to take up; the other must either be stopped at three or 

 four leaves or rubbed out. Permitting the growing one 

 tn continue until four or five feet have been covered is to 

 make the first portion of the rod. This comes into 

 notice at the end of tlie season and we are confronted 

 with the question of how much vine to leave. Four feet 

 should 1)6 the limit the first year and about three feet in 

 succeeding years. In this way the vine is built up grad- 

 ually; additional number of bunches are produced an- 

 nually and the vine is benefited by the slight extension 

 of the rod annually until the limit is reached. The 

 extension system as practised in some places is not to 

 be generally recommended. It is a pleasing sight, how- 

 ever, to see a whole house filled with one vine and carry- 

 ing a full crop. 



Pot Vines 



Pot-vines started the middle of November should have 

 the night temperature raised to 50 degrees F for a few 

 weeks and as the first leaf expands 55 F must be a min- 

 imum. At such times the night temperature indicator 

 should read 55 to 60 F. This advancing of temperature 

 plays an important part in the production of fruit at all 

 times, more especially the earliest houses. Conditions 

 being different at different establishments makes it hard 

 to define an "exact" for all. Although it makes it easier 



for the night fireman to have the required temperature 



marked down he should thoroughly understand that in 

 severe weather a drop of 5 degrees is preferable to ex- 

 cessive fire heat in all houses treated in this column. 



Pruning Peach Trees 



At the time of making some notes on disbudding 

 trees growing on the trellis I mentioned the advisability 

 of removing those on the underside, as it simplified prun- 

 ing later on. Anyone who has practised both in the en- 

 deavor to prove which is the best, will, I feel sure, agree 

 with me that trees having growths left on both sides of 

 the shoots are much more difficult to prune, and make a 

 poorer looking tree than those which have gi'owths left 

 on the top side only. When pruning trees growing on 

 the former method one often finds vacant V shaped 

 spaces to be filled in when tying. The first consider- 

 ation is to keep the bottom of the tree filled with good 

 vuod. This is sometimes overlooked. The top and 

 center will always fill up, the latter often too much so, 

 iiaking it necessary to remove some good fruiting wood. 

 As the bottom ought to be kept well furnished so 

 ought the center to be kept open to make room for 

 young growths. Having all the fruiting wood on the 

 top side, it is an easy matter to cut away the old under- 

 neath wood and draw its successors down. All pruning 

 should be done before the trees are cut away, then a 

 good idea can be gained of what is required to "fill the 

 bill" next year. There may be times when good wood 

 has to be cut away, yet it is better to do so than have 

 a tree overcrowded. Where it is possible the same 

 man should prune the trees that dislnnliled them. Some 

 growths will have to run a little close but the majority 

 should be four inches apart. Use a sharp knife and 

 always make a clean cut. Young trees will need very 

 careful pruning, as their future dejiends on it. Trees 

 planted this time will need little pruning. It is a mis- 

 take to prune them hard back, as it only induces strong 

 heavy wood. 



Order Seeds 



Get your order in for vegetable seeds for the coming 

 vear. without delay. Nothing is gained by leaving it 

 until a few days before something is needed. Soon after 

 receiving the 1913 catalogs the list should be compiled 

 and sent in. This not only gives the stores a better 

 chance but you are sure of your seeds, on time. If you 

 do not want them around so soon give a date for deliv- 

 ery. Do it now by drawing up your lists and save the 

 wait later on. Novelties should always be tried, biit do 

 not put in a main crop of some novelty you have not 

 tried before, however good it seems to be. for i< may 

 not suit your locality. 



A Correction 



Through an oversight in copying, a little error crept 

 into my notes on Strawberries in last week's issue, viz.: 

 Have the pots washed clean "soon after the leaves ap- 

 pear" should read "soon after being removed from the 

 leaves they were plunged in." 



