,,2 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



dressing of wood-ashes on the surface, applied when they are in need of water 

 and then watered in, is very good for the development of the fruit buds. A 

 surprising amount of feeding can be done when the trees are well established 

 and in full health and vigor. Heavy feeding at one time is dangerous, for it 

 is liable to burn the roots, and this does more harm than good. It is much safer 

 to feed lightly and often. 



A certain amount of potash is excellent for tiiis crop, both when the trees 

 are carrying the fruit and when finishing up their wood for the following season. 

 Potash applied in the form of hardwood ashes is as good as any other. I have 

 used it successfully for many years. Some soils will take more than others. 

 Study your soil and apply the ashes accordingly. 



The foremost authorities on fruit culture are agreed that the following 

 elements are necessary for the maintenance of thrifty, healthy, vigorous trees 

 for any length of time: Phosphoric acid, potash, lime and nitrogen. These 

 may be applied separately or in the form of a complete fertilizer. The inex- 

 perienced grower will find it easier to use a complete manure, for all the high 

 grade manures give full directions as to how much to apply in order to get the 

 best results. For light feeding after the crop is gathered phosphoric acid and 

 potash are the best, as they will firm up the wood and develop the buds. I 

 attribute whatever success I may have had during many years of handling 

 Peaches and Nectarines under glass to the carrying out of those simple rules. 



If any hardwood plant is forced while the buds are not fully de\eloped, 

 or the wood is not well ripened, the result is far from satisfactory, c\cn if the 

 plant gets the best of care. The same applies to fruit under glass. Gi\e \our 

 trees good treatment along these lines, and _\ou will be more than repaid the 

 following season. 



I do not belie\e in tying the shoots much after the crop is off; better let 

 them hang a bit loose. If e\ery shoot is tied in place the house will present a 

 much neater appearance; but as our object is to produce high class fruit, we 

 should give trees the amount of liberty which agrees best with them. Trees 

 may occasionally make a few sappy growths toward the Fall; these should 

 be cut away before they take much strength from the other shoots. Much 

 may be said as to the treatment of the trees after the fruit is gathered. I trust 

 that I have demonstrated the importance of proper treatment, for It means 

 healthy trees, and healthy trees mean an abunciaiue of high ^nacle fruit, which 

 is the aim of every grower. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING 



The Peach tree requires both Winter and Summer pruning. If disbudding 

 and the cutting away of useless wood ha\e recei\ed proper attention during 

 the growing season of the trees, not much Winter pruning will be necessary. 

 The grower should be thoroughly familiar with the mode of bearing and should, 

 above all, be able to distinguish the wood bud from the fruit bud. Occasion- 

 ally, especially when the trees get older, there will be quite a space toward the 

 terminal ends of the shoots where there will be more fruit buds than wood buds. 



