A Selection of Articles about Growing Fruit Plants, Bushes and Trees in Pots

By Read Books Ltd.

This vintage book is a complete guide to growing fruit, with information on growing trees, bushes, and in pots. Profusely illustrated and containing simple instructions, this volume is ideal for the novice grower, and would make for a great addition to collections of related literature. Contents include: “House Suitable for Pot Fruit”, “Cultural Directions and Feeding”, “Pot Fruit”—Pinching the Shoot—Thinning the Fruit”, “Thinning the Fruit”, “Pot Fruit—Treatment of Trees after the Fruit is Gathered”, “Selecting the Trees”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on growing fruit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473354913

Book preview

POT FRUIT CULTURE AND ITS ADVANTAGES

HOUSE SUITABLE FOR POT FRUIT

POT fruit has been grown for many years with much success, but only in the past ten or fifteen years has it been grown to any extent in this country. When this method was first started, many years ago, it was generally thought that it would be impossible to produce high class fruit under these conditions. Growers said that starvation would be the result, or that the trees would be exhausted within a few years. But time and experience have taught us differently. It has been proved that trees adapt themselves admirably to this restricted way of growing, and that they are capable of carrying good, average crops every year. In our climate the life of the trees may, with good care, be safely set down as ten or fifteen years, and this is long enough to satisfy most fruit men.

Not only are the trees good for many years, but the fruit taken from them is of excellent quality, with intense color. The Pear, for instance, will produce finer fruit here under the pot system than in Europe. Our dry, bracing climate secures a good set annually. The improvement in Pears grown under glass is very noticeable, both as to size and finish, provided the proper kinds are selected. In speaking of this class of fruit, it is customary to use the term pot fruit. At the establishment of Thomas Rivers and Son, England, which is the home of the pot tree system, pots are decidedly preferred to tubs. But there is a wide difference in atmospheric conditions between England and our country; the former has a moist, moderate climate, while that of the latter is dry, often with extreme heat. Therefore, tubs are to be preferred here when the trees get large enough for them. When I first began to grow fruit in this country, many years ago, I naturally clung to the training of my boyhood days, when the pot system was used. But I found out in the course of time that the pots are too dry and hot for the roots. I then tried plunging the pots, but this did not seem congenial to the roots, and I then tried the tubs. I now recommend tubs as being preferable to pots, that is, when the trees are large enough, or from a 15-inch tub up.

The advantages of growing tub fruit are many. In the first place, the work is interesting because a variety of fruit can be grown in this way. I may say that the orchardhouse is one of the most tempting of the whole range, from the time that the trees are started until the fruit is fully developed; particluarly so when the trees are shapely. An orchardhouse in full bloom is a lovely sight, but to see those little trees later on loaded down with their perfectly developed fruit calls forth exclamations of wonder and delight. The quantity of fruit that can be grown in a moderate-sized house is truly surprising.

There are still other advantages of tub fruit. Many a house stands idle during the Summer months that could be used to good advantage by placing some of these trees in them, for they will grow well in any light house where they get the full sunlight; and where a house is set aside for tub trees, it may be used for other purposes for four months of the year at least, that is, with due precaution as to the class of material grown therein. Do not use it as a planthouse, for it may become infested with mealy bug, which is not a desirable guest to have in a fruithouse. The orchardhouse, moreover, gives results the first season, if pot grown trees are secured, as should be done. Taking everything into consideration, therefore, pot grown fruits have many advantages in their favor. Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Figs, Pears, Plums, Peaches and Nectarines, all adapt themselves to the orchardhouse treatment. But a good-sized house is necessary to grow all these kinds with a fair complement of each.

I presume that most of this class of fruit is grown in private establishments, and generally with one house set aside for that purpose. All the fruit mentioned above will thrive together, with the possible exception of Cherries. My experience with Cherries in a mixed house has been anything but encouraging, for they have a tendency to drop their fruit before stoning. I shall have more to say later as to the best kinds to be grown under glass in tubs or pots.

As regards the arrangement, it is preferable to keep each kind together as much as possible, since they will not all bloom at the same time. Pears, Plums and Apples, when in bloom, need a dry, bracing atmosphere, or it will be difficult to dry up the pollen. If we have a good, bright sun during this period, there is little cause for worry, as then the pollen will distribute itself freely and a good set will be almost assured. But if we are unfortunate enough to get a damp, cloudy spell at this time, it is best to keep on some air, with more fire heat if necessary. Pears and Plums will absolutely refuse to set in a close, humid atmosphere.

In ordering trees for the orchardhouse, it is best to decide beforehand what style of tree is to be preferred, whether bush, half standard or pyramid. Half standards are excellent for Peaches and Nectarines; but taking all things into consideration, I decidedly prefer to have most of the trees in pyramid form. Trees in this shape certainly give a house a more finished appearance. A pyramid Pear or Plum tree in full flower is a handsome sight. There is no bare stem, but a fully furnished tree from the tub up.

It is important to note here that the best stock obtainable should be procured. Get good, thrifty, young trees. This class of trees, as it comes from the nursery, requires about 11-inch or 12-inch pots for the first season. One of the most serious blunders that we can commit is overpotting. Trees can be kept in much better health by confining them to comparatively small tubs. This holds particularly good after we have had the tree for some years. With systematic feeding a 20-inch tub can support a large tree. While the trees should be repotted every year, they do not therefore require a larger shift each time; they can often go back into the same size pots