December 30, 1911 



HORTICULTURE 



931 



Fruits and Vegetables Under Glass 



TOP DBESS STRAWBERRIES 



Strawberries started the first of the month will have 

 commenced growth and the roots will be seeking nour- 

 ishment. Turn a plant or two out of their pots to as- 

 certain if the roots are working, then proceed to give 

 them a top dressing of good rich soil or add a small 

 percentage of lasting manure to it. Remove as much of 

 the surface soil as you can before adding the new and 

 when so doing leave enough room for the water. This 

 top dressing plays an important part with early straw- 

 berries, as no more feeding is advisable until the fruit 

 has set, when they will take all you can give them. To 

 feed from now on would grow a quantity of soft foli- 

 age ; a large percentage would be liable to go blind and 

 when the plants should feel the effects of strong 

 "drink" and put more energy into all their functions 

 they are already immune to it and you do not get the 

 desired effect. Raise the temperature of the house to 

 50 to 55 degrees at night. Watch that the hose does 

 not miss the underneath side of the foliage or red spider 

 will soon present itself. Great care should be exercised 

 in ventilating as strawberries are very susceptible to 

 mildew. 



PEACH BUDS DROPPING 



To make the statement that when a peach or nec- 

 tarine tree is dormant is a very critical time with it 

 seems to be outrageous, but the fact remains that with 

 a little neglect now — a tree thoroughly dried out, a 

 dry Warm atmosphere or a fluctuating temperature — 

 down comes the whole lot of flower buds; you cannot 

 glue them on again; a season's work is lost. This bud- 

 dropping is not known outside because the trees never 

 become dry at the root during this season, nor does 

 the atmosphere. Late root pruning will often cause 

 buds to drop if coupled with any dryness. Look to the 

 borders periodically and do not let them get dry. Pot 

 trees placed in any cool house to avoid frost on the 

 pots, will need a more rigid attention as they dry out 

 more quickly. Syringe the trees over on fine mornings 

 two or three times a week which will keep the buds 

 plump. Dropping often commences immediately the 

 house is started. There is no cure but lots of simple 

 preventives. 



HISTORY OF THE VINE 



The vine shares with the fig the distinction of being 

 one of the oldest cultivated fruits in existence. The 

 Holy Bible makes reference to them in more than one 

 place and the works of ancient writers disclose the fact 

 that the vine has always been cultivated wherever civil- 

 ization has brought man to his rightful sphere in the 

 world and the climate allowed it to grow. Even where 

 climatic conditions were averse, artificial means have 

 been brought into use and we find the vine one of the 

 first subjects to be grown successfully under glass. The 

 grape vine, Vitis vinifera, was found growing wild in 

 western Asia, northern Africa and southern Europe 



and from this the numerous varieties we have in culti- 

 vation today have descended — some the results of 

 nature's work as they grew in their wild state, others 

 the direct result of man's forethought and hybridising, 

 the greater part of which has been done under glass. 

 Varieties suitable for cultivation in the vineyard and 

 field have also come under these guidiDg influences to 

 be greatly improved. It is those especially adapted 

 for growing under glass that we are interested in at this 

 time. New introductions are sent out yearly, each 

 claiming some improvement, but there are a few real 

 old ones which have held a reputation for years and 

 cannot be replaced by the novelties. A most notable 

 example of this is Black Hamburgh, which needs no 

 introduction to readers of Horticulture — undoubtedly 

 one of the first grapes to be imported into this country. 

 Could many well-known varieties trace their ancestry 

 back far enough I think they would eventually find a 

 stray line of Black Hamburgh work in somewhere. The 

 majority of grapes grown under glass owe their origin 

 to the skill of the gardener. The grape vine has al- 

 ways enjoyed a long life and with care will last a life- 

 time. 



TOMATOES 



Tomatoes planted for the fall and winter supply will 

 soon finish and to keep up a supply a sowing should be 

 made now. It does not pay to keep old plants which are 

 about worn out, for the sake of a few fruits which may 

 still be hanging. The seedlings can be grown on into 

 six-inch pots before planting them on the benches and 

 then only half the old crop can be done away with and 

 replenished with young plants. As soon as these young- 

 er ones commence fruiting plant up the other section. 

 Numerous varieties are grown good under glass and can 

 be classed as those bearing large fruits and others hav- 

 ing rather small but very solid fruits. The latter are 

 often preferred on account of shipping well, and are 

 more economical when using small quantities. Stir- 

 ling Castle and Sunrise are notable examples of these. 

 Of the larger varieties Best of All and Comet are good. 

 Sow the seed in well drained pots or pans in a light 

 compost and place in a temperature of 65 degrees. 



CUCUMBERS 



Cucumbers that are wearing out can be replenished 

 in the same way as the foregoing. Make a sowing now 

 and plant up half the space allotted to them when ready, 

 [mproved Telegraph and Rochford's Market, two of 

 the older school, are still in the lead for productiveness. 

 Peerless and Matchless are finer fruits but do not 

 crops of the former two. Sow the seeds 

 o three-inch pots and give a temperature of 

 70 dejrrees. 



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