212 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



[ September, 



as a protection from frost, in the manner described below. In the third spring after 

 planting, the tree is cut at 6 in. or 8 in. from the ground, to induce young shoots, 

 which are to form the principal branches of the tree. These grow on during 

 summer, and in autumn are covered up with earth. A dry day is chosen, 

 when the soil is friable. All weeds and leaves, as well as the half -grown autumn 

 figs, indeed all matters tending to induce decay, are removed, and the branches are 

 divided into four equal bundles, which are tied together with string. A trench 

 is then dug for each bvfndle, which is covered to the depth of 8 in., a small cone 

 of earth being piled over the roots. Fig. 1 shows the appearance presented 

 after the tree has been covered up ; fig. 2 shows the general horizontal direction 

 given to the tree by this mode of treatment, the branches being usually collected 

 into four bunches, which are laid out in the form of a cross. The same kind of 

 arrangement is equally applicable to plants on sloping banks, a basin of earth 

 bsing formed around the stem to retain water, and the bundles of branches being 

 buried in an up-hill direction. This is shown in fig 3. 



Towards the end of February, the buried trees are uncovered, a damp, warm 

 clay being chosen. The earlier this can be safely done the more forward will be 

 the crop. Sometimes half the tree is uncovered at the end of February, and half 

 at the end of March, by which plan there is a chance of securing a better average 

 crop. After uncovering, the branches are separated to equal distances, those 

 which are too near the ground being held up by means of forked sticks. The 

 young shoots growing from the stock are henceforward carefully cut off. This 

 brings the operations to the end of the fifth year. 



In the following spring, as soon as the uncovered trees 



show signs of coming into leaf, disbudding is had recourse to. 



The older branches present the appearance of fig. 4, fig. 5 



being an enlargement of fig. 4 A. As soon as growth com- 

 mences, the terminal buds of all the 



young shoots are nipped off, in order 



to favour the development of the wood 



buds at the base, and to encourage the 



young figs already beginning to appear 



(fig. 5 a). About half the lateral wood 



buds, those nearest the young figs, are 



also rubbed off (fig. 5 b). Two buds ® 



are always left near the base of each 



branch (fig. 5 d), and one towards the 

 tip (fig. 5 c), to draw up the sap. The end shoot of each branch is treated in 

 a similar manner, buds being retained to form side shoots at about a foot apart. 

 When the young shoots attain the length of about two inches, some of those on 

 the lateral branches and on the end branch are nipped off, mild weather being 

 chosen for the operation. On the former, the shoot nearest the base of the 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 5. 



