IRISH GAKUENING 



.63 



I'hc Orcli:ii\l 1 louse. 



I>y 1). M'Inio^ii, D.iiuiiii (.i.irik'iis, K,illij;iii. 



T1IOS1-; who liavo hail the pleasure of 

 \isitin>^ some oi' I lie finest shows 

 lluoiit^^houl the country cannot f:;il to 

 ha\e heen struck by the many fine dislies of 

 apples and pears set up at these exhibitions. 

 .Such beautifully-coloured, hii^rii-class fruits can 

 only be produced wilii the aid oi an orchard 

 house. This structure is best erected on a site 

 runniui,' nortii and south, accommodated with 

 plenty of \enlilation at command, holli top ani.1 

 bottom, and a double fiow and return heatinj; 

 apparatus. Ciood fruit trees can now be pur- 

 chased from any reliable nurseryman. Pots, 

 varvint;; in size from eleven to thirteen inches 

 in diameter, are usually Ibund larg'e enouj^h for 

 newly bout;lit-in trees. Where pot trees are 

 1,^0 wn on from year to year one of the most 

 important operations in their successful culture 

 is their annual repoltintf and top-dressing' 

 October is the best month to accomplish this 

 work. Peaches and nectarines should always 

 be taken in hand first ; then follow^ on with 

 plums, cherries and pears, and lastly, that oi 

 apples. In selectingf the soil it is essential to 

 procure good, fibrous loam, fairly heavy, but 

 not clayey. Do not break it up too fine, but 

 rather have it cut up in the form of lumps, as 

 the roots will adhere to them far better. The 

 potting compost should consist of two-thirds 

 fibrous loam, one-third well-decayed horse 

 maniu-e, a little old lime rubble and a good 

 ' sprinkling ot bonemeal and soot. The lime 

 rubble will prove beneficial at the stoning 

 period. Watch that the trees are not potted 

 too deeply, but only sufficiently to ensure that 

 the surface roots are just covered. Care should 

 ahvays be taken in repotting and top-dressing 

 to ram the soil firmly. Having repotted or 

 surface-dressed, according to each plant's indi- 

 vidual requirements, plunge the pots outside 

 again, in a sunny but sheltered position, two- 

 thirds their depth, but first putting into the 

 hole a spadeful of ashes, to keep the worms 

 from entering the bottom of the pot. From 

 now onwards until February they will need 

 little further attention, except keeping an eye 

 to the watering ; but should hard weather set 

 in, cover the pots with a good layer of dry litter 

 to prevent them bursting by frost. While 

 the trees are situated outside, the orchard 

 house mav be conxenientlv used for Clir\santhe- 



mums and other greenhouse plants and shrubs. 

 In i-'ebruary, any priming that the trees require 

 must be duly attended to, if the weather is not 

 too severe. .\s the different trees show signs 

 of flowering bring lliem in to their allotted 

 space in the orchard house. Ventilate freely 

 on all favourable occasions, leaviiig a good 

 opening on the top at nights also. When the 

 blossoms begin to expand a buoyant air must 

 be maintained, and if dull, simless weather 

 prevails, a circulation of heat in the pipes will 

 be found a necessity. It must be borne in 

 mind that air is an essential for the setting of 

 these fruits. If bees are not over numerous at 

 this period artificial means of fertilizing the 

 (lowers must be resorted to. .\ rabbit's tail, 

 tied on to the end of a bamboo cane, makes an 

 ideal fertilizer. This operation should be 

 practised every day until the flowers are well 

 set. .\ temperature ranging from forty-five to 

 fifty degrees will be adequate at this stage. 

 Cold winds must be avoided at all times. 

 Syringe in the mornings and afternoons if the 

 weather is fine. Fumigate without delay on 

 the first appearance of fly. .Xs the fruits 

 increase in size gradually inure the trees to a 

 warmer atmosphere. Feeding can now be 

 commenced by applying weak soot-water and 

 liquid manure each once a week, slightly 

 increasing the strength as the fruits increase -n 

 size. With the approach oi' the stoning period, 

 leave off the feeding for a montli or so, with 

 the exception of apples and pears, which should 

 be fed almost from the time the fruits are set 

 until they are almost ripe. When the stone 

 fruits have finished stoning a closer atmosphere 

 must be maintained. Shut up the house in the 

 afternoons, but well syringe the house before 

 doing so. An excessive temperature must be 

 avoided, as it only tends to premature ripening. 

 Pinch the strong-growing shoots of apples and 

 pears when they have made four or fi\e leaves 

 to assist the weaker ones in vigour. .At this 

 stage, when the fruits are swelling rapidlj- and, 

 therefore, require abinidance of water and 

 stimulants, it is a good plan to secure a quan- 

 tity of fresh cow manure and mix it with a 

 little soil and soot. Place this mixture around 

 the outer top part of the pot, in ridge form, 

 making it smooth and even as the work pro- 

 ceeds. Thi.. addition will allow a little top- 

 dressing around the stem of the tree, ahvays 

 bearing in mind that sufficient space must be 

 left for feeding and watering. .Assuming that 



