1873.] FIG-CULTURE. 25 



of those which, have flowered early and are healthy should be kept 

 •growing, to be lightly shaken out and grown on for early work next 

 season. Pelargoniums should be kept growing slowly, and water 

 withheld as much as possible for some time. Give plenty of air to 

 prevent spotting. Sweet-scented Pelargoniums should be grown in 

 quantity. Poinsettias should not be kept damp when flowering ; cold 

 draughts soon put an end to their beauty. Look well after those 

 which have flowered ; and when time arrives, cuttings may be had — 

 cutting down old plants for early work. Chrysanthemums when done 

 flowering should have their flower-stalks cut off, and the plants en- 

 couraged to make cuttings, and be fit for dividing : nothing in pots, 

 however hardy, should be exposed to frost. 



Bedding-plants should be kept free from decaying leaves, keeping 

 all surfaces stirred. Fresh air should have free course when it can be 

 admitted ; frosty winds would do much damage. Never use fire-heat 

 if it can be avoided. Shut up early to harvest sun-heat. Keep 

 Auriculas dry, air carefully, take away any decaying matter when it 

 appears. Keep moss and weeds from all surfaces ; prevent drainage 

 from being stopped up ; slugs may do much damage if not seen to in 

 time. Lily of the Valley and bulbs in pots must be kept from frost : 

 take supplies into gentle warmth as required. Bulbs done flowering 

 may be saved for planting out. M. T. 



FIG-CULTUHE. 



NO. IV. 



Forcing and General Management. — There is perhaps no other 

 fruit-bearing plant that submits with greater freedom and success than 

 the Fig to early forcing, and it certainly yields under favourable treat- 

 ment a very good return in the shape of two crops of fruit annually. 

 In some cases it has been made to produce a third crop by commenc- 

 ing to force early, and prolonging the process late in the season ; but 

 although this is possible, it is by no means desirable, for, besides the 

 debilitating influence on the plants, the third crop is never fine in 

 quality. 



Where a regular succession of ripe Figs is required from April to 

 Xovember, I recommend that there be a set of plants in pots, and 

 another planted out, as has been treated of. Those in pots should be 

 started about the new year, to ripen their first crop in April and May, 

 and their second in July and August. Those planted out in borders, 

 if started the end of February or beginning of March, ripen their first 

 crop in the end of ^lay and June, and their second will be aU gath- 



