四季成り果樹園芸: スモモなど　Plum etc

鉢植えのハニーハートに１個だけ実が残っていました。鉢植えなので毎年数個しか生らず、しかも葉っぱも実も、コガネ虫の害に会いがちです。残った１個はリンゴのように袋掛けにして保護してありました。ハニーハートは早生種で、６月末から八百屋さんで見かけます。ただし、非常にマイナーな品種らしく、うちの地域では１件の八百屋さんが扱うだけです。その早生種が、袋のおかげかいつまで経っても落果しないので、今日採ってしまうことにしました。

There was one fruit still left on the plum tree called 'Honey Heart'. Growing in a pot, it produces only a few fruits every year. Moreover, this year, scarab beetles have been eating both the fruits and leaves. So, I tried to protect the last fruit with a bag designed for apples. This cultivar normally ripens very early, and I can find the fruits in the shop at the end of June every year. However, it being a very minor variety, only one greengrocer in my area sells it. Despite the early ripening habit, this one fruit has remained on the tree, probably thanks to the protection given by the bag.

本来なら、袋を外したら数日間直射日光に当てて全体的に色づかせるのが良いとは思いますが、露出した状態だとまた食害にあう可能性があるので直ちにとってしまいます。

I decided to pick it today. Normally, you should leave the fruit for several days after removing the bag, so that the whole fruit will become red in the sun. However, I dared not leave it exposed due to the risk of being damaged by the scarab.

半割にしてみると、袋のせいか色づき方が一様ではない。この品種は完熟すると半離核なので気に入っています。右の半身の最も色が濃い部分に糖度計を当ててみると、25.3度ありました。

When I cut the fruit in half, the colouring was not uniform, probably because of the bag. At least, I could see that it was ripe since one side of the fruit detached easily from the stone. When I applied the brix meter to the darkest spot on the left half, it showed 25.3% sugar content.

左の半身のほうは29.8度。この品種の平均糖度は14度台なので、かなり高い状態です。ただし、糖度計の数値はあくまでも、最も色づいている1点に当てて出たものであり、他の色が薄い部分は14度程度でした。酸味が少ない品種なので、とても食べやすいです。

The left side showed 29.8%. The average sugar content of this variety is 14-15%, so these figures are extremely high. However, I only applied the instrument to the darkest spots where the sugar content should be the highest. Applying the gadget to the paler parts showed figures around 14%. I like this variety since the acidity is very low.

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今日は朝から蒸し風呂のような一日でした。必要に迫られて外に出ると滝汗です。

夕方散歩で城北公園に着くと、以前会ったことのあるボーダーコリーの子犬に会えました。最近人気のブルーマールの美しい子で、アビー君、現在 1歳1か月だそうです。

It was unbelievably humid today staring from early morning. Out of necessity, I went out of the house a few times and came back with sweat streaming down.

We went to the Johoku Park for our evening walk. On arrival, we ran into the Border Collie we met once before, named Abby. He is a beautiful blue merle, which has become highly popular among several breeds. His coat is still short since he is only 1 year and 1 month old.

子犬とは思えないくらい落ち着いた子で、タイガと静かに挨拶。

He may be a puppy, but he is very mild mannered even when greeting Taiga.

そこへ最近よく会うシュナウザーのジョン君が到着。

There came John, 5 years old Schnauzer, whom we met recently.

挨拶代わりに、いきなりジョン君がアビー君に飛びつきました。

Instead of greeting, John jumped at Abby without warning.

アビー君は決して吠えることはなく、ただし怯えることもなくやり過ごしました。どうやらジョン君は、子犬で未去勢のアビー君に反応したようです。

Abby never barked or growled, but he was not scared, either. It seems that John was reacting to Abby, a puppy, for being an intact male.

アビー君が去ったあと、ジャックラッセルの初対面の女の子が到着。ライラちゃん、７歳。とてもフレンドリーな子で、タイガにもジョン君にも愛嬌を振りまいていました。

After Abby left us, a female Jack Russell arrived. Her name is Laila, 7 yeas old. She was extremely friendly with everyone, even though we met her for the first time.