Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29
FORCING THE BLOOM.
Dwarfng Fruit Trees for Winter
Flowers

III women knew what attractive shrub
berry they could have to decorate their
homes in the winter more off them would
dwarf fruit trees that bear pretty blossoms,
even II the process is a slow, tedious one"
declared prominent nurseryman, for
know of no plant that flowers during the
cold weather that gives such fragrance or
sense or freshness as miniature cherry
tree, apple. peach or ounce tree.
"Dwarfing, contrary to the general idea
is not a mysterious art or particularly diff
cult. but the work takes time and Is consid-
cradle bother. and the trees must be taken
when young-not more than a year old
or the process will not be entirely success
ful. Then. too, careful attention must be
paid to the temperature of a room in which
these trees are kept or the leaves and bios
SONS cannot be forced.
In selecting a young fruit tree, or a
maple. or oak be sure to choose a healthy
specimen. or the transplanting and subse-
quent treatment. combined with the indoor
life, may kill the Seeding. The plot or
wooden tub In which the tree is placed must
also be thoroughly considered, for 1t must
be remembered that though the trunk and
branches are dwarfed the roots grow nor
mally, and large vessel with plenty OF
earth must be furnished or the tree will
not be properly nourished
Once the transplanting is done-and this
Is work that a nurseryman should do, to
make sure that the roots will have plenty of
room and be well covered with loam-the
tree may be taken into the house. in a room
where the temperature Is not more than
30 degrees Fahrenheit carefully watered
when the earth begins to get dry and left
to get accustomed to its new surroundings
III, after six weeks or two months, the tree
seems to be In normally healthy condi-
ton. the first work of dwarfing may be
started. This process may be done in sew
eral ways, to be determined by the size that
Is wanted and also the shane II
stubby, brush effect is desired the best and
quickest method is to tie the tree trunk In
knots. for this takes off the height imme-
diately and gives gnared and old appear
ance that could not be secured in any
other way. If. however smooth trunk is
desired. and 1t is not essential to have
excessively low tree. twisting the trunk will
be sufficient to bring the result
Strange as 1t may seem to an inexpe-
rienced person. this twisting and tying
does not injure the tree, for the wood Is so
soft and pliable that it may be bent into
any shape without breaking or even snap
ping. To either twist or tie, take the trunk
firmly in one hand and with the other bend
gently but firmly round and round, or make
Into a knot just with a piece of cord
This twisting and winding does not even
let the sap escape for the fiber is so elastic
that 1t seems to give even when tied In
several knots that will take anywhere from
six to eighteen inches from the height of
the tree.
Twisting the trunk is not the only work
for If the branches are to be made into any
set form. such as fan, or are to taper to-
ward the top like fir tree, they too. will
have to be knotted or wound round to give
symmetry
Both with the branches and tree trunks,
this knotting and twisting will have to be
repeated at intervals If the trees grow
above a certain height. During this process
the best results are obtained by keeping
the trees in room where the temperature is
about IS or 20 degrees and they should be
watered frequently; in fact. the soil should
be kept wet all the time. Cold, though not
icy, water should be used. II the growth Of
the trees Is not retarded by this treatment
the leaves and blossoms may be forced at
the end Of two four weeks.
Forcing Is comparatively easy, for the
trees must be kept in a room where the
temperature is about 80 degrees and con-
stantIy watered. At the end OF six weeks,
or perhaps even a shorter space OF time the
leaves will appear, and later on the BIOS
SONS that make these small trees desirable
table ornaments. provided they are not too
large"