Orchard Houses 150076

ORCHARD HOUSES, in certain quarters, constitute a subject which is now attracting no small measure of attention. We can not perceive the same necessity for them here which may be supposed to exist in some other countries, nor do we believe that they will ever become leading objects in horticulture, except among amateurs. One of the chief arguments urged in favor of this mode of growing fruit-trees, especially the plum, the peach, and the nectarine, is the immunity thus afforded against the attacks of the curculio. This argument, to a certain extent, is a sound one, and with many will be sufficient to outweigh all considerations of labor and expense; and that the ends of science may be furthered, it is well that it should be so. It is certain to our apprehension, however, that the "little Turk" will not be so easily turned off. Neither glass, nor bars, nor wire netting will be effectual in keeping him out so long as there is a door to be opened; and once he has effected a lodgment within, he will be sure to make his appearance just at the inopportune moment he is least wanted, whether it be in January or March. This may not take place in an orchard house for several years; but that it will take place, we have not the least doubt All analogy is in favor of it; and thus, in our plans for an orchard house, we must not forget to make provision for the companionship of this little pest.

Our position is, that as orchard houses become established, the curculio will take up its quarters in them, in greatly lessened numbers to be sure, and under easy control, but still there. Those who go into orchard-house culture must not suppose that they will thereby escape the annoyance of insects. There will be fewer of them, and they will be more readily destroyed; and this will be a great point gained. We wish to do away the impression which we know to have been produced upon the minds of many, that by growing fruit-trees under glass, in pots, they will escape all the annoyances of insects, and half the labor incidental to growing trees in the open air. We could scarcely have believed this, if the fact had not come under our personal observation. We desire to see orchard houses fairly started, and without false impressions so far as we can correct them; and we therefore say to those who purpose embarking in this interesting experiment, that looking after insects, pruning, watering, and other matters necessary to the greatest success in growing fruit-trees in pots, will require no inconsiderable labor and expense.

Opinion seems to be divided in regard to the best mode of constructing orchard houses for our hot climate, and also as to whether it is better to keep the pots under glass all summer, or to remove them to the open air soon after the fruit is well formed. With our warm climate and clear sun, there would seem to be no necessity at all for growing plume, etc., under glass, except as a matter of amusement for the wealthy; but here we are confronted with the "little Turk" again, who is always an unseemly intruder whenever the subject is mentioned; but we have some doubts lurking in our mind, whether, if we perseveringly bestowed upon trees in the open air the same amount of labor which will be necessary to insure success in the orchard house, we could not secure at least two-thirds of the plum crop of the entire Union. We do not see any reason to hope, however, for any such persevering application of labor, and we therefore return to the orchard house.

So far as the construction is concerned, we are of opinion that it should be on the continuous roof principle, and as flat as is consistent with strength. Provision should be made for an abundant supply of moisture by evaporation, in such manner as to be easily controlled. We need scarcely say anything about providing for ventilation; for of this, in our opinion, there is generally a good deal too much. There will always be plenty of that, if nothing else. If the trees are to remain under glass all summer, (and what is the use of a special orchard house if they are not?) we would call attention to the plan recommended by Mr. Saunders, of placing them in a border divided by brick-work into compartments of the size of large pots. This plan affords sufficient facilities for root pruning, and greatly lessens the labor of watering. We have grown grapes in this way in a very satisfactory manner, and can not perceive why pears and plums could not be grown so too. The only doubt in our mind is, whether these trees will bear the same amount of heat that is congenial to the grape, provided a sufficient amount of moisture is supplied to the atmosphere.

If these fruits will not bear the heat, it will be necessary to shade the glass; and then the question arises, whether they will mature kindly and in perfection without the direct rays of the sun. All these points must finally be settled by experience.

If, however, the trees are not to remain under glass during the summer, there can be no necessity for building a special orchard bouse, unless under some peculiar circumstances; for they can just as well be started in February or March in an ordinary greenhouse or grapery, and removed to the open air about the last of June. In this mode of growing fruit-trees in pots, we have had some experience; and as information on this subject, however meagre, is now eagerly sought, we will state concisely how we grew them. The first dwarf apples and pears we ever grew, we grew in pots, not from choice, but necessity; and all the happy hours we have since enjoyed among our plants and trees have not been sufficient to obscure the pleasure we took in growing those miniatures in pots. Our success was limited at first, in consequence of beginning with large trees: a cause which, we suspect, will produce many failures in orchard-house culture. We finally selected maiden trees, put them into the smallest pots in which we could conveniently get them, and cut them down to about six buds.

If the leader grew too vigorously, we pinched it out when some twelve or fifteen inches long, and the laterals we pinched frequently and unsparingly to induce the setting of fruit-spurs: an operation which required close watch-ing and a nice judgment, to prevent the spurs from running into wood.

Watering was carefully attended to, and the trees frequently syringed overhead. To prevent undue evaporation, the sides of the pots were protected by boards or hay, which we found to be especially serviceable. This treatment was continued till fall, at which time the supply of water was gradually lessened, but the leaves never allowed to flag. When the frost had stripped off the leaves, and the wood was thoroughly ripened, the leader was cut in to eight buds, and the laterals to four. The trees were then shifted into larger pots, and placed in the cellar for the winter. They were examined occasionally, and water given when needed, which was not often.

The first season the plants were grown entirely in the open air, but the next they were placed in the greenhouse during February and March. The same system of pinching was pursued during the second and subsequent years. In potting in the fall of the second year, some of the old earth was shaken from the sides of the ball, and portions of the old roots pruned off; and the trees at no time were put in pots measuring over fourteen inches in diameter. In the second year we generally had two or three fine specimens on each tree. When the fruit was well formed, the pots were put outside, and protected as before described.

In re-potting after the second year, the sides, top, and bottom of the ball of earth were pared away, and a portion of the old roots removed. Liquid manure was occasionally applied, and at long intervals lime-water. The trees were not allowed to overbear, ripening too much fruit having proved even more injurious to trees in pots than to those in the open ground; but a uniform crop was easily obtained every year. The trees were examined daily for insects during the early part of the season; the surface soil was frequently stirred with a blunted stick; and the outside of the pots was kept clean by being occasionally washed, for we had an idea at the time that a clean pot was conducive to the health of the tree, and we have seen no reason to abandon it since. Such, in few words, constituted our treatment of the pear; that of the apple and nectarine was, of course, somewhat different.

The reader will probably be glad to know of what our compost consisted. Two things we considered indispensable, and still consider bo, namely, charcoal dust and black vegetable mould from the woods. We used to have a heap of rotted sod, a heap of fine old manure protected from the weather, some bone dust, charcoal dust, mould, lime, ashes, etc.; and we do not like to be without them now. The basis of the compost was decayed sod, this, however, being light; to this we added one part of vegetable mould, one part of fine manure, one part of charcoal dust, and a sprinkling of bone dust and ashes. The drainage consisted of about one inch of charcoal, the size of hickory nuts, which we consider the best drainage that can be used. The ingredients of the compost were thoroughly mixed, and frequently turned before being used. With such a compost and the treatment above described, very fine pears, plums, nectarines, etc, can be grown in pots by anybody who has a greenhouse or grapery and a good cellar, or even the latter alone. Such trees, in pots, are beautiful objects placed on the side of walks or on the lawn; and the pleasure of growing them will be a rich compensation for the labor and time bestowed.

If any of our readers desire further information in regard to this manner of growing fruit-trees in pots, we shall be happy to give it.