146 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CHAPTER XXIII 



POT FRUIT— TREATMENT OF TREES AFTER THE FRUIT IS 

 GATHERED 



AFTER the crop is gathered, pot fruit should receive the same treatment 

 as ail other trees. Give them all the care possible in the way of water- 

 ing, spraying and even a light feeding once in a while. This will build 

 up the wood and bring the buds to the highest state of perfection. If these 

 trees are treated carelessly in any way, they cannot be expected to yield a rich 

 crop the following season. They may be placed outdoors, preferably in a shel- 

 tered location, where they receive the full benefit of the sun. A position near 

 the greenhouse will be found to be convenient for the man in charge; then the 

 trees will be more likely to receive their due share of attention. Trees in tubs 

 require enormous quantities of water in their growing season. This exhausts 

 the soil, even though heavy feeding has been done throughout the Summer 

 months; therefore, repotting or retubbing should be done once a year, the best 

 time for this operation being the Fall, just as the fruit buds are fully developed, 

 or the foliage is taking on its Autumn cast. It Is not necessary to wait until 

 the trees are bare of leaves. I prefer, in fact, to retub before they ha\e lost 

 all their foliage. Early forced trees are ready for retubbing before late fruit, 

 although there may be only a difference of ten days or so. The trees are usually 

 in good shape for repotting from the middle to the end of October. ! hen, 

 again, the soil in the tubs should be considered with regard to moisture; it 

 should be in such a condition that c\erything works freely when reducing the 

 ball. On no account retub the trees when the ball is very wet; neither should 

 it be too dry; always try to strike the happy medium. As every ball must be 

 reduced some, it will be much more easily done if the soil is just right, and the 

 roots will Ix'ucfit in luning the soil friable. The amount of the reduction must 

 be left to the grower's judgment, but it is a serious mistake to over-pot. For a 

 Peach or Nectarine that has been bearing fruit for eight or ten years a tub fifteen 

 or sixteen inches in diameter inside measurement should be sufficient; by this 

 may be figured the reduction necessary if the trees are repotted once a year. 

 The roots will more readily take hold of the new potting material after being 

 reduced. Loosen out all the roots around the ball and shorten back with a 

 sharp knife any coarse stragglers. A clean cut will callus over readily, whereas 

 a rough cut may cause decay. The fibrous roots are the main support and 

 these should be taken care of. The best way to reduce the ball is to use an iron 



