NOVEMBER. 335 



fall off without ripening. The trees will require nothing further done 

 to them during summer except attending to protecting the fruit from 

 wasps, &c. By keeping the shoots well thinned they will be short- 

 jointed and well ripened, and by letting them hang loosely from the 

 wall the embryo Figs will not be brought too forward to stand over 

 wnter. Towards the end of October, when the leaves are all off again, 

 all that will be required is to take the ends off all the shoots, and 

 either nail them to the wall and thatch them, or loose the branches 

 from the wall, tie them together, and cover them with protecting 

 material. 



Much of the success depends on removing t^e ends of the shoots, 

 because, when the terminal bud is left to develop itself, it robs the 

 young shoot of all its organised matter, and the consequence is, the 

 embryo Figs die off for want of their proper nourishment ; but w'hen 

 the bud is removed the young fruits have all the matter in the shoot for 

 their support. It is often a subject of complaint that the young Figs 

 turn yellow and die off. This often happens when the terminal bud of 

 the shoot is allowed to gi'ow, because it deprives them of their proper 

 support. 



By the method just detailed, I have always had abundant crops of 

 Figs in the open air. Indeed, I look forward every year for a crop of 

 Figs almost with as much confidence as I do to the return of summer. 

 I have said nothing of the soil proper for the Fig, because it will grow 

 in almost any kind of garden soil. Having followed the above plan for 

 some years, and it having always been attended with the most entire 

 success, I can confidently recommend it. 



M. Saul. 



Stourtoyi. 



CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIEri\ 



On Saturday the 9th September the Autumn Fruit Competition was 

 held. Notwithstanding the rather unfavourable character of the season 

 for fruit, there was, on this occasion, a very large supply, and many 

 productions of superior excellence were brought forward. Prizes were 

 awarded as follows, viz. : — 



For Peaches, in which there were no fewer than nineteen competitors, 

 the prize was gained by ]\Ir. Cowie, gardener to Lord Torphichen, 

 Calder House, with the varieties Royal George and Late Admirable ; 

 a second premium was voted to Mr. Campbell, gardener to James 

 Johnston, Esq., of Alva, for Noblesse and St. Catherine; and a third 

 to ]Mr. Crocket, gardener to Colonel Ferguson, Raith House, for Belle- 

 garde and Royal George. 



There were thirteen competitors for the best six Nectarines, and 

 three prizes were awarded — the first to Mr. Allan, Rachills, Lockerbie, 

 for Roman ; the second to I\Ir. Niven, Kier, Dunblane, for Elruge ; and 

 the third to ]\Ir. Ramsay, Newbyth, Prestonkirk, for the same variety. 



For the best bunch of Muscat Grapes there were nine competitors. 



