January  24,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Hardy  Fruit  Garden. 
Renovating  Fruit  Trees. — Advantage  has  to  be  taken  of  the  winter 
season  to  carry  out  the  work  of  renovating  fruit  trees  when  from  various 
causes  something  is  necessary  to  be  done  in  order  to  improve  them  in 
fruit-bearing  capacity.  Frequently  this  can  be  effected  by  thinning 
out,  so  as  to  better  dispose  the  shoots  and  branches  more  fully  to  the 
light  down  to  their  base.  Renovation,  however,  also  includes  root- 
pruniDg,  this  being  necessary  in  many  cases  in  order  to  check  exuberant 
growth  and  pt  edisi  ose  buds  to  foim  fruiting  spurs  rather  than  rush 
away  into  wood  growth. 
Apples  and  Pears.— Many  varieties  of  Apples  are  not  regular  and 
steady  bearers  evm  under  favourable  conditions,  producing  sometimes  a 
crop  only  once  in  t  wo  or  three  y  eat  s,  missing  even  for  longer  periods  when 
the  growth  has  been  neglected  and  crowding  has  resulted.  With  such 
varieties,  which  i  dude  White  Juneating,  Fearns’  Pippin,  and  Blenheim 
Pippin,  the  ant  ual  tetuction  of  crowded  wood  is  necessary,  and  if  this 
should  not  be  carried  out,  periodical  renovation,  becomes  necessaty. 
This,  though  not  effective  at  once,  has  the  desired  effect  in  time. 
Restricted  Trees — The  kind  of  tenovation  necessary  is  best  indicated 
by  the  fot  m  of '  n aining.  Those  which  are  trained  in  restiicted  form 
if  crowded  with  growths  of  main  branches  must  have  these  reduced  to 
a  foot  apart,  or  to  a  similar  distance,  all  over  the  trees.  The  next  step 
is  to  reduce  the  numter  of  spurs,  following  this  by  shortening  those 
much  elongated  and  extending  a  long  way  from  the  main  branch.  With 
trees  that  have  been  very  much  neglected  in  this  respect  the  cultivator 
is  liable  to  p.  utie  too  severely.  The  best  policy  is  to  work  down  the 
surplus  gradually,  so  that  an  undue  check  is  not  given  to  the  trees, 
which  may  postpone  a  pnfitable  fiui'ing  period.  The  gradual  method 
consists  in  carrying  out  the  various  forms  of  pruning  over  one,  two,  or 
several  successive  seasons.  For  instance,  a  tree  burdened  with  crowded 
main  brar ches  may  have  a  portion  of  these  removed  the  first  season, 
dealing  with  the  most  useless  and  unprofitable.  Accord  the  same 
treatment  to  the  spurs  in  regard  to  number  and  length,  and  complete 
the  pruning  another  year. 
Root-pirtining  is  always  best  dealt  with  in  two  stages,  carried  ont 
in  successive  jeais.  The  severe  checks  liable  to  be  given  the  roots  are 
thus  obviated,  and  the  balance  of  wood  growth  and  root,  growth  better 
and  more  i ationaliy  equalised.  Dining  the  conise  of  the  next  month 
any  renovating  details  may  be  carried  out,  but  the  earlier  it  is  completed 
the  better  befoie  t  he  active  rising  of  the  sap  begins. 
Standard  Trees. — These  are  characterised  by  freedom  of  growth,  as 
opposed  io  lestiicteri  tiaining.  The  freedom,  however,  is  likely  to  be 
oveidone  if  due  prrcau  k-ns  are  not  taken  to  prevent  overcrowding, 
especially  in  the  centres  of  trees.  In  removing  the  branches  that  ate 
not  requited  take  them  out  entirely,  or  at  suitable  jurctioi  s  with 
others.  Shortening  is  detrimental  to  habit,  form  and  ft uii fulness,  and 
cannot  be  too  strongly  deprecated  in  the  case  of  general  pruning  of 
standard  trees.  So  disposing  the  branches  that  light  and  air  can  pass 
through  the  trees  is  highly  conducive  to  their  acquiring  and  retaining 
a  fruitful  habit.  Cu  rut  spray  growth  which  starts  from  old  wood. 
Plums  and  Cherries. —  Wall  Trees. — With  trees  on  walls,  a  com¬ 
bination  of  the  two  systems— spur  ptunirgand  laying-in  young  growths 
— is  undrubtedly  the  best.  Examine  the  trees  as  a  whole  first,  and 
mark  for  removal  branches  which  can  with  advantage  be  dispensed 
with.  This  will  leave  the  rest  free  to  be  freshly  oisposed  over  the 
space  available.  Some  attention,  more  or  less,  should  be  given  to  this 
re-arranging  each  season,  as  branches  and  parts  of  b  arches  become 
exhausted.  Endeavour  to  keep  the  spurs  near  the  wall  by  gradually 
reducing  some  each  season.  If  the  trees  are  fan-shaped  allow  yoi  ng 
growths  to  predominate,  forming  spur  growths  chiefly  from  those  which 
cannot  cot, verier t ly  be  laid  in.  Aged  and  overgrown  trees  must  be 
brought  back  to  fruitfulness  and  good  form  gradually.  Sevete  measures 
in  pruning  often  res'  It  in  gumming  in  stone  fiuit  trees.  This  must  be 
guarded  against  as  much  as  possible. 
Standard  and  Hal. I -standard  Plants  and  Cherries. — These  forms  of 
trees  are  the  most  pi<  lific,  and  aie  easily  managed  provided  that  when 
young  they  are  well  established  in  foim — that  is,  the  requisite  number 
of  branches  disposed  to  foim  a  shapely  tree.  In  order  to  do  this 
judicious  piuning  is  necessary,  but  when  it  is  once  effected  little 
pruning  is  requited  in  after  years.  Occasionally  a  branch  which  may 
be  extending  inconveniently  may  be  bodily  removed,  and  the  same 
should  be  practised  on  branches  becoming  exhausted,  weakly,  or  ihat 
may  be  completely  dead.  Suckers  aie  troublesome  in  the  case  of  mat  y 
old  trees,  and  require  to  be  caiefully  dug  out.  The  lenovation  of  the 
roots  tucht  to  be  mainly  effected  by  top-dressing  with  material 
containing  lime  and  wood  ashes,  mixed  with  good  loam.  The  upper 
crust  of  the  soil  can  be  removed  down  to  the  surface  roots,  on  which 
spread  the  mulch.  A  dressing  of  farmyard  manure  may  be  placed  on 
the  mulch,  and  allowed  to  wash-iu  with  the  rain. 
83 
Fruit  Forcing, 
Cherry  House. — A  house  of  Cherry  trees  planted  out  or  in  pots  is 
found  here  and  there  throughout  the  country,  and  the  fruits  they  bear 
are  very  desirable  additions  to  the  dessert  at  the  end  of  April  and 
through  May,  when  the  house  be  started  at  the  new  year.  The 
utmost  care  must  now  be  taken  to  have  the  trees  perfectly  free  from 
aphides,  which  seem  to  emerge  from  the  eggs  with  the  buds  casting 
their  scales,  and  they  at  once  fasten  on  the  growths.  This  must  be 
prevented  by  fumigating  with  some  approved  preparation  of  tobacco, 
so  as  to  thoroughly  annihilate  the  pests,  for  it  is  essential  to  a  good 
set  that  the  blossoms  be  perfectly  developed  ;  therefore  effect  the 
destruction  of  the  pests  before  the  flowers  unfold.  Syringe  the  trees 
occasionally  up  to  the  blossom  showing  the  loveliest  of  all  white,  but 
cease  then,  damping  the  paths  and  borders  instead,  and  ventilating 
freely.  Keep  the  house  at  40°  at  night,  45°  to  501  by  day  from  fire 
heat,  ventilating  at  50°,  and  allowing  a  rise  of  10°  to  15°  from  sun  heat, 
with  full  ventilation,  closing  the  house  for  the  day  at  50°.  Take  care 
not  to  allow  the  border  to  become  dry,  and  remain  in  that  state  ;  but 
water  as  necessary,  so  as  to  keep  the  soil  moist,  yet  not  supplying  it 
excessively,  so  as  to  make  the  border  sodden,  and  attend  regularly  to 
the  needs  of  trec  s  in  pots. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines. — Ea ’  liest  Forced  Trees. — The  flowers  must 
be  fertilised  as  they  rxpand  and  the  pollen  becomes  ripe,  distributing  it 
<  ver  the  stigmas.  Syringing  may  be  resorted  to  both  morning  and 
afternoon  when  the  fruit  is  well  set,  but  in  dull  weather  damping  the 
paths  and  borders  will  be  sufficient,  and  in  cold  weather  syringe 
si.fficiently  early  to  allow  the  foliage  to  become  dry  some  time  before 
nightfall.  Water  used  for  svringing  must  be  of  the  same  temperature 
as  the  house.  Ascertain  that  there  is  no  deficiency  of  moisture  in 
borders  inside,  watering  thoroughly  if  necessary,  as  driblets  are  next 
to  useless.  Disbudding  must  soon  have  attention.  It  must  be  done 
carefully  at  this  early  season,  removing  a  few  growths  daily  from  a 
tree  preferably  to  many  at  distant  intervals.  The  latter  practice  gives 
a  check  to  the  roots  at  the  expense  of  the  fruit,  which  for  lack  of 
assimilated  matter  often  falls  at  this  juncture  in  consequence  of  sap 
concestion. 
Maintain  the  night  temperature  at  55°,  5°  less  in  very  severe 
weather,  and  5°  more  in  mild  weather,  60°  to  65°  by  day  from  fire 
I  eat,  5°  less  on  these  figures  when  the  weather  is  cold  and  dull. 
Ventilate  early,  admitting  a  little  air  at  65°,  not  allowing  an  advance 
over  70°  without  full  ventilation,  closing  at  65°,  always  excepting  a 
small  portion  left  at  the  top  of  the  house  constantly.  This  prevents  a 
vitiated  atmosphere,  securing  a  healthy  condition  in  the  leaves,  enabling 
them  to  do  more  and  better  work  in  the  daytime. 
Second  Early  Forced  Trees. —  The  trees  started  at  the  new  year  are 
expanding  their  blossoms,  and  before  they  open  it  is  well  to  make  a 
close  scrutiny  of  the  trees,  and  if  any  aphides  are  seen  fumigate  or 
vapourise  to  exterminate  pests.  Great  care  is  necessary  in  fumigating, 
a 8  the  organs  of  fructification  are  easily  irreparably  damaged.  Where 
there  is  an  excess  of  blossom  buds  draw  tl  e  hand  the  contrary  way 
of  the  growth  along  the  under  side  or  back  of  the  trellis,  so  as  to 
remove  those  situated  there;  and  if  that  is  not  enough  thin  them  well 
with  the  forefinger,  leaving  the  best  situated  and  most  promising. 
Syringing  must  cease  when  the  buds  show  colour,  but  damp  the  house 
in  the  morning  and  early  afi  ernoon  ;  for  though  damp,  stagnant,  cold 
air  is  not  favourable  to  Nectaiine  and  Peach  blossoms,  or  the  trees  in 
any  stage  of  their  growth,  a  dry  atmosphere  is  pernicious  bv  provoking 
constant  and  excessive  evaporation.  Spe  that  inside  borders  are 
thoroughly  moistened  through  to  the  drainage,  but  avoid  needless 
waterings. 
Succession  and  Late  Houses. — Finish  pruning  the  tress  in  succession 
houses  at  once,  not  deferring  that  of  those  in  late  houses  beyond 
movement  in  the  buds.  Dress  the  trees  with  a  disinfectant,  such  as 
carbolic  or  paraffin  soap  4  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of  water,  taking  care  not  to 
dislocate  the  buds,  aud  not  using  the  solution  so  strong  if  the  buds  are 
advanced  in  swelling.  Secure  the  trees  to  the  trellis,  allowing  ample 
space  in  the  ligatures  for  the  swelling  of  the  branches,  and  leave  room 
between  these  for  laying  in  young  wood  for  future  bearing.  Fork  the 
border  lightly,  not  disturbing  the  roots,  removing  any  loose  soil,  and 
supply  fresh  loam,  but  not  more  than  an  inch  or  two  in  thickness,  and 
top-dress  with  an  approved  fertiliser. 
If  the  borders  are  at  all  dry  they  should  be  given  a  thorough 
watering.  Where  the  roof-lights  have  been  removed  watering  will  not 
be  required,  the  soil  being  in  a  thoroughly  moist  condition  from  rain. 
Maintain  a  genial  atmosphere  as  a  preventive  of  bud-dronping.  Bud¬ 
falling,  however,  is  due  to  other  causes  than  deficiency  of  moisture  at 
the  roots  or  in  the  air  during  the  resting  period.  Over-maturity,  as  in 
early  and  consecutively  forced  trees,  impel  feet  bud  formation  through 
a  deficiency  of  moisture  at  the  roots  or  in  the  atmosphere  during  the 
summer,  or  lack  of  assimilating  power  and  support  through  attacks  of 
parasites,  and  too  crowded  a  condition  of  the  foliage,  conduce  to  the 
misfortune. 
Strawberries  in  Pots. — The  plants  introduced  early  in  December 
have  pushed  the  flower  scapes  simultaneously  with  the  leaves,  and 
mii.ute  aphides  are  showing  themselves.  Where  this  is  the  case 
fumigating  must  be  had  recourse  to  so  as  to  compass  their  destruction 
before  the  flowers  expand.  Damp  the  paths  in  the  morning  and 
early  afternoon,  and  keep  the  temperature  at  from  503  to  55° 
