Splitting of Fruits 



berries, occurs when water is more than sufficient, 

 and while it is difficult to regulate the amount the 

 vine shall absorb it is not so difficult to regulate the 

 amount it shall lose. This may be done by (1) 

 maintaining a drier atmosphere to encourage the 

 loss of water, and (2) leaving more leaves on the 

 laterals than is usually done. 



Sphtting of other fruits, such as tomatoes and 

 apples, occasionally occurs, especially after the plants 

 have been subjected to dry conditions for a time, 

 and then to copious supphes of water. It may be 

 obviated by maintaining uniform conditions, and 

 rendered much less likely by providing available 

 potash. The use of much organic manure often 

 results in splitting, especially in tomatoes, for it 

 makes the soU more moist, and the nitrogen con- 

 tained encourages " soft " growth. 



Bleeding in plants, being the loss of sap from cut 

 ends of stems or from wounds, robs plants of much 

 of the sugar and other foods which they contain. 

 It occurs when roots are active, foliage for getting 

 rid of water vapour either absent or very sparse, 

 and wounds leave an open passage for the flow. 

 Pruning in spring after the rise of the sap is likely 

 to prove detrimental and to weaken plants, and if 

 it must be done the ends of the pruned shoots should 

 be closed by means of " styptic." Removing shoots 

 in summer (unless almost aU the foliage is removed) 

 is not followed by bleeding, since the remaining leaves 



38 



