FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CHAPTER XX 



POT FRUIT— CULTURAL DIRECTIONS AND FEEDING 



POT fruit nia>- be started into growth an\- time from tiie ist of January 

 to the 1st of Marcii, according to the demands for ripe I'ruit. If the 

 earliest varieties are to be gathered about the middle of May, then the 

 house must be closed up January ist. Bear in mind that the fruit must be 

 brought along gradually, in order to get the best results. In private establish- 

 ments, where there is other fruit to depend upon, it is better to bring on the 

 pot fruit a trifle later in the season; but this all depends on circumstances. Pot 

 fruit, when well grown, is a pleasure to look upon, but if neglected in any way, 

 it is a miserable failure. It naturally needs closer attention than trees planted 

 out in the border. If the orchardhouse receives good care as to watering, feeding 

 and all the other necessary details, it will more than repay for the extra labor 

 bestowed upon it. One can easily get enthusiastic over pot fruit in good con- 

 dition. It is therefore to the grower's advantage to keep his trees in good health, 

 which is the main secret of success in this line. Any one who undertakes the 

 culture of pot fruit must have a love for his calling. Such a man will make a 

 success of it, even if his experiente be limited, and as the years go b\ and lie 

 gets more fully acquainted with his trees and their requirements, the\ JDccome 

 as companions to him. This work is indeed intensely interesting from start 

 to finish — watching the tree from the de\elopment of the blossoms to the ma- 

 turity of the fruit. 



I ha\-e heard it said more than once, that pot fruit is not as fine as that 

 grown in the border, and that the llaxor is not quite so rich. Where such is 

 the case, the pot fruit is not receiving proper care. If the fruit is checked in 

 any way it will inevitably show. For instance, if the trees are allowed to suffer 

 for want of moisture at the roots two or three times while the fruit is de\eloping, 

 or if too much water is given, the reaction from either will be sufficient to pro- 

 duce inferior fruit. Such occurrences are apt to give the pot fruit a bad name 

 unjustly. But I can say, unhesitatiiigl.\ , that the flaxor of pot fruit properly 

 grown is all that could be desired, and i.-i\u:\\ to that of fruit produced in any 

 other way. 



The first thing to be taken into account for pot fruit is the temperature. 

 When starting fruit any time from the first to the middle of Januar\, a night 

 temperature of 40° is needed for the first week, increasing the day temperature 

 10 or 15 , according to the weather conditions. As the buds begin to swell, 

 gradually increase, i)oth night and day, and as the trees are coming into bloom, 



