190 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



August, 1911 



Diseases of Celery 



A. McUnU, Leidra, Oat. 



There are several diseases which at- 

 tack celery, but only a few may be men- 

 tioned. "Damping" is caused by a fun- 

 gus which follows careless w.tering 

 while the plants are very small. It at- 

 tacks the stems of the seedlings at the 

 point where they emerge from the soil, 

 bringing about decay. This disease may 

 be avoided by starting the plants in 

 trays in a shallow trough containing 

 about one inch of water, allowing the 

 water to enter through th'e drainage holes 

 in the bottom of the trays. In this way 

 the surface of the soil will remain slightly 

 dry, while the roots will receive plenty of 

 moisture. It will always be necessary 

 to water very carefully and to avoid ex- 

 tremes of drought and moisture, also to 

 provide plenty of heat and ventilation. 

 During extremely dry weather it is best 

 to prevent too rapid evaporation by par- 

 tial shading with lath screens of thin 

 muslin. 



The disease known as "blight" or 

 "leaf spot," is caused by a fungus. It 

 is very prevalent and destructive. It 

 makes its appearance at any time, usual- 

 ly after the plants have been set in thle 

 open field. The first visible indication of 

 the disease is in the form of grayish spots 

 upon the leaves, changing to a brown or 

 burned appearance in a day or two. If 

 conditions continu'e suitable to the de- 

 velopment of the disease, it will spread 

 to all parts of the plant, the stems will 

 droop and the entire plant assume the 

 appearance of having been scalded. The 

 h|eart of the plant will continue to throw 

 up new leaves, but when once badly in- 

 fected, it never sufficiently overcomes the 

 disease to produce a marketable product. 

 When this disease makes it appearance, 

 it is already too late to attempt to eradi- 

 cate it, as much of the injury has been 

 done before the existence of blight is 

 perceptible. 



CBLERY BLIGHT 



Celery blight generally appears during 

 or immediately after a period of sultry 

 weather, when the atmosphere is fillcl 

 with moisture and the nights warm 

 Bright sunshine and a clear atmosphere 

 during the day, with cool nights, are 

 favorable for the prevention and control 

 of blight. Any check in growth will 

 so weaken the plants that they are liable 

 to be attacked by disease. On the other 

 hand, if the plants can be kept in a vig- 

 orous growing condition during unfav- 

 orable periods, they will be in a much 

 better condition to withstand disease. 

 Owing to close selection and constant in- 

 breeding, the self-branching varieties 

 have become constitutionally weakened, 

 and suffer more from disease than the 

 hardier green sorts. 



Under favorable conditions spraying 

 has in many instances proved beneficial 

 in checking blight. Severe loss from 



blight is noted only where large quan- 

 tities of celery are grown and handled 

 together. Growers will not be greatly 

 troubled if the plants are kept in a vigor- 

 ous condition throughout tht' growing 

 period. 



This may be greatly helped by partly 

 shading the plants up to the time when 

 they are set out into the open field and 

 by planting th. crop on land that is rich 

 enough to keep up a rapid and uninter- 

 rupted growth The most satisfactory 

 shade for the plant bed consists of a 

 screen made of plastering laths. The 

 size of an ordinary hot bed sash is the 

 most convenient for these screens. 



on at a pressure of twenty pounds for 

 twenty minutes. 



To use formalin, the following is the 

 strength : Eight pounds formalin to one 

 gallon water; one and a half quarts of 

 mixture to fifty gallons of water. Then 

 use one gallon to every square foot of 

 surface and leave for ten days. Then 

 dig over and plant. 



Growing Tomatoes 



A. H. MacLeonaD, B. S. A. 

 When growing tomatoes in the green- 

 house pollination should be carefully at- 

 tended to, as insufficient pollination 

 causes misshapen fruit. When the flower 

 is mature the stamens are the longest. 

 But as the flower opens to be pollinized, 

 the pistil gradually elongates until it is 

 much longer. Being longer, and the 

 stigma larger than the style, it lends to 

 ward off pollen. Pollen grains adhere 

 and germinate easily. The more pollen, 

 the more perfectly shaped fruit. Pollin- 

 ization is effected by tapping flowers, 

 jarring uprights, or using a brush. Us- 

 ing a spoon and stick and tapping care- 

 fully each flower is the best method. It 

 should be done at least every other day. 

 The pollen is most abundant on bright 

 days. The plants and atmosphere must 

 be dry. 



DISEASES 



Leaf blight or scab (Cladosporum ful- 

 vum) appears as rusty brown spots on 

 the under surface of the leaf. It is 

 caused by too damp atmosphere. Give 

 better ventilation and allow less water 

 on the leaves. As soon as noticed, use 

 Bordeaux mixture, spraying thoroughly 

 both sides of the leaf. If the disease is 

 well established, it is best to remove the 

 crop, then sterilize or renew the soil. 



Blossom End or JBIack Rot is caused 

 by insufficient moisture at roots as the 

 plant matures. The plant has become 

 dry and when watered the sudden filling 

 of the cells of the fruit causes the skin 

 to burst and allows the entrance of bac- 

 teria. Mildew appears as purple or 

 brown spots on the leaf, which wilts 

 where attacked. 



The best remedy is to vaporize sulphur 

 in the house. 



STERILIZATION 



There are two methods of sterilizing 

 the soil — steaming and formalin. If you 

 have sub-irrigation, you can simply -con- 

 nect your steam pipes by hose to the 

 upright and force steam through the 

 soil until it rises in a cloud. Another 

 method is to make a pan, which is forced 

 down over the soil and steam connections 

 made on top. The steam is then turned 



Possibilities of a Greenhouse 



I have a small greenhouse, 16 x 35 feet. 

 It is heated by hot water. I want to run 

 it this winter, and as I am only an amateur 

 1 would like to knew what may be grown 

 in it most profitably and what are the pos- 

 sibilities of such a house. I have four acres 

 of land one and one-half miles from what 

 is considered a good market, but as I have 

 to hire a man to keep a horse. I find the 

 expense greater than the returns and would 

 appreciate a few practical suggestions.'' 

 — Mrs. Amateur, Ontario. 



It is very difficult to reply to a ques- 

 tion of this k-nd where .so many factors 

 have a beari:.g on the matter. In the 

 first place, the small greenhouse men- 

 tioned would not be sufficient to occupy 

 one person's time and give remunerative 

 results. As a side line to some other 

 business it might be useful. As to what 

 could be grown in the house mentioned, 

 a great deal would depend upon the 

 market for the produce. That could be 

 decided only by someone who knows the 

 requirements of the place. 



To go into the plant and cut flower 

 business to make any kind of success it 

 would require at least three or four 

 houses of the capacity of the one men- 

 tioned, as there is not room enough for a 

 collection of plants and flowers for a 

 general florist's stock. If there is a good 

 market for cut carnations, these could 

 be grown. It would be necessary at this 

 late season of the year to purchase plants 

 from some large firm growing these 

 flowers, such as the John Dunlop Co., 

 Toronto, Gammage & Co., London, or 

 other large firms, as it is too late now to 

 start the plants for winter flowering. 

 Field grown plants could be secured and 

 planted about the end of August. It 

 is too late to think of growing Chrysan- 

 themums for the present season. Let- 

 tuce, radishes, and onions could be 

 grown during winter. All of these, if 

 properly handled, are good paying crops. 



As to the foui acres of land mentioned, 

 it is a useful property to have in con- 

 nection with greenhouses ; but as you 

 say you cannot run it to make returns, 

 it would be better to dispose of it, al- 

 though if properly run and suitable for a 

 market garden it should work in very 

 nicely for early vegetables from plants 

 raised in the greenhouse in early spring. 

 Much depends, however, upon the ability 

 of the person running a greenhouse or 

 garden as to the success attained. 



