266 THE GARDENER. [June 



established on both sides. Many trees perish from not having enough 

 space to grow upon. Continual cutting brings on canker, then death 

 follows. Old Jargonelle Pears, Apricots, and Morello Cherries, often 

 met with in houses growing how they may, with little labour bestowed 

 on them, show what is most suitable for their welfare. Plenty of 

 space saves the knife, both at top and roots. Pigs growing vigorously 

 may have their tops taken off at fourth or fifth leaf, which will throw 

 them into fruit. We do all our pruning to Figs in the growing season, 

 and root-prune whenever there are signs of useless growth. We never 

 have a failure with this fruit, but can supply strong manure-water 

 throughout the whole growing season, and few shoots are made on 

 established trees longer than 4 or 6 inches. Abundance of fibre and 

 plenty of stimulant give plenty of large fruit. When gross shoots 

 are made on young trees — such as Carrington and Castle Kennedy 

 Figs — we make notches in them about every 8 inches apart, and young 

 shoots are thrown out. The tops are taken off when the fifth bud is 

 formed, and fruit generally shows itself at once. The system of lay- 

 ing-in and cutting-out young wood annually, if not done by experi- 

 enced hands, too often ends in failure. Whether we train in fan-shape, 

 upright, or horizontal (and all these we try), leading shoots are taken 

 equidistant, and kept in their place, similar to trained Pears and 

 Apples. Cultivating Figs in pots is an easy method of managing them : 

 watering, surfacing, and pinching are all that is then required. Cor- 

 dons are easily managed : some we have grown in this way, and 

 spurred in more for the sake of getting leaves, are now loaded with 

 fruit, and, though shaded by Peach-trees trained over them, they swell 

 to a good size. White Marseilles is an excellent kind for growing to 

 cover walls which are shaded by Vines or otherwise. On some of these 

 we had fine fruit, yellow as gold, in April; now they are crimson, and 

 different in shape all on same tree. The second crop, which is a heavy 

 one, will probably be of a brownish tinge. Position and cultivation 

 change the character of Figs entirely; our favourites are Black Ischia, 

 Brunswick, Brown Turkey, and White Marseilles. Sometimes with us 

 Castle-Kennedy and Brunswick are exactly alike. 



The lifting of bulbs when they are done flowering will now require 

 attention. To make way for flowering-plants, the bulbs may be care- 

 fully lifted with all their roots and some earth attached, and planted 

 in sand till they ripen. Summer flowering-plants may be planted out 

 now ; and if watering is necessary, give all the soil plenty, and hoe the 

 surface soon afterwards. Mignonette, Stocks, and other sweet-scented 

 plants, should be plentiful. They are favourites with every one. Sweet 

 Peas : stake and keep the pods off them ; top if they get too high. 

 Bud Roses as soon as the bark peels off readily : when done early, the 



