74 



Arthur T.Boddington, 342 West 14th St.. New York City 



Fruit Trees Under Glass 



By 



WILLIAM TURNER 



poses 

 could 

 this is 



HE cultivation of fruit trees in pots or tubs has made rapid headway during the past few years, while the method 

 is not new by any means. Some 30 or 40 years ago, when Thomas Rivers started to grow pot fruit, it was 

 looked upon as impossible to produce fruit to equal the planted-out system ; but he proved otherwise, and 

 we have today proof that equally as fine fruit can be produced in this way as in any other. Then, again, the advan- 

 tages can readily be grasped, especially where greenhouses are limited, as the house could be used for other pur- 

 during the early part of winter. How many greenhouses are lying idle during the summer months, where a crop of fruit 

 be brought in to advantage ; the cost is nothing compared to the results obtained. The first thing to be considered (and 

 important) is to secure the best stock— healthy and vigorous— stock that will give results the first season. What is it that 



makes an orchard-house so interesting? It's the variety of fruit 

 that can be grown in this manner, — and those miniature trees 

 loaded with blossoms make a picture ; but the fruit that follows 

 is doubly interesting. With care and good judgment those 

 trees will be vigorous and profitable for years. A good com- 

 post is necessary ; soil procured from good pasture land — sa\', 

 cut and laid up a month or so before using — or, in other words, 

 what would be considered a good rose soil would be all right 

 for this purpose. For two loads of soil, add one of good, thor- 

 oughly decayed manure, and a sprinkling of one-fourth inch 

 bone. Chemical fertilizer should be applied when the trees are 

 in active growth, but by no means give those trees a large shift 

 at any time, otherwise the soil is apt to get sour ; the result 

 will be that roots will rot and the trees will get into a sickly 

 condition. The trees can be grown either in pots or tubs ; the 

 latter is preferable here in our extreme temperatures, the tubs 

 being cooler to the roots. But, whether in pots or tubs, the soil 

 should be thoroughly firmed around them. The trees should 

 be repotted every season, and the best time for this work is in 

 the fall, just when the wood is thoroughly ripe or the foliage 

 almost ready to drop. While they need retubbing each season, 

 they do not necessarily require a larger size each time ; often- 

 times they can be reduced to go back in the same size again. 

 Take, for instance, a tree in a tub 15 inches square. With sys- 

 tem in feeding, it should carry at least 75 well-developed fruits 

 of peaches or nectarines. 



GENERAL TREATMENT 



Temperature. — Supposing an orchard -house should be 

 started, say, the first of January. A temperature of 40° at 

 night and 50° during the day for the first ten days would be all 

 that was necessary, gradually raising it until it reaches 50° at 

 night and 60° to 65° during the day, or even 70° with sun heat. 

 By the time they are coming into bloom, after the fruit is set, 

 more heat may be given them. 



Watering and Feeding.— Water should be applied spar- 

 ingly until root-action is lively ; then increased. In fact, when 

 the fruit is swelling they should never be allowed to suffer for 

 the need of water. In the matter of feeding, pages could be 

 written on this one subject, but experience has taught us that, 

 in using chemical fertilizers, there is no better way than as a 

 top-dressing. Take, for instance, Thompson's Vine Manure, 

 which is one of the best all-round manures. For fruit take eight 

 parts soil, one part Thompson — a light top-dressing — every 

 week or ten days after the fruit is set, with occasional manure- 

 water— that from the cow-barn preferred. Of course there are 

 other fertilizers that can be used to advantage. The main thing 



Fear, Madame Treyve, grown in a pot under glass 



is to apply a certain amount of potash and phosphoric acid in some shape or form. The observant man will watch his foliage ; 

 if of a yellow appearance, that tree is asking for something. Keep your foliage of a healthy dark green, then the results will follow. 



Varieties. — With proper selection of varieties, fruit can be secured from the same house for at least two months. Peaches, 

 nectarines and pears are three of the best fruits for this work. Plums would be next in order. Apples and cherries may also be 

 grown. The following varieties will give a long season of fruit : Nectarines in order of ripening — Cardinal, Early Rivers, Advance, 

 Stanwick, Elruge, Spencer, Humboldt, Victoria. Peaches— Duchess of Cornwall, Hale's Early, Gross Mignonne, Diamond, Fos- 

 ter, Bellegarde, Princess of Wales, Thomas Rivers. Pears— Bartlett, Madame Treyve, Souv. de Congress, Louise Bonne de Jersey, 

 Princess, Magnet, Conference, Palmaston, Duchess, Durondeau or Tongers. Plums— The Czar, Belgian Purple, Denniston 

 Superb, OuUin's Golden, Mallard, Grand Duke, and many others might be mentioned, but this will give a succession. 



