CULTURE OF THE FIG. 



27 



is a gross feeder and strong grower, and it 

 succeeds better than any other fruit, on the 

 back wall of a grapery, not minding the 

 shade of the vine. The second and third, 

 or principal crop, is produced on the current 

 year's wood. To produce fruit, the wood 

 does not require to be well ripened, as does 

 that of the grape ; but as soon as the shoot 

 has made 12 to 18 inches growth, and the 

 leaf is well expanded, the fig pushes from 

 this new wood at the eye, formed at the 

 foot-stalk of the leaf. The first crop of figs 

 appear thickly over the last year's wood, but 

 there being no leaf to perfect the fruit, it 

 mostly drops or ripens imperfectly — a few 

 only of those favorably situated, ripen well. 



Fig. 13. The tree at the end of the first year. 



The growth of the tree should be encoura- 

 ged by training, nearly upright, the shoots. 



Fig 14. The tree at the end of the second year. 



the first season, and other shoots in after 

 seasons, until you have the Avail covered 



sufficiently. The second season, the last 

 year's shoots should be trained horizontally 

 [a) to make the eyes push the bearing spurs, 

 {h) for on these you are to get your main 

 crop. Lay those in, as soon as they are 

 long enough, and the fruit will soon appear. 

 At the winter pruning, stop the leader as 

 far back as you think best, say at e, and cut 

 in all the bearing wood or spurs, to one inch 

 ormore, (see cross cuts/,/,) using your judg- 

 ment as to the proper spot ; making sure 

 there is an eye to start, 

 e 



Fig. 15. The tree at the end of the Zd year, shelving how i'. is 

 to be trained. 



The scale is the most troublesome insect 

 on the Fig. To keep it under, the wood, 

 after winter pruning, must be covered all 

 over with a composition made of soft soap, 

 wood ashes, and a small quantity of tobac- 

 co water ; the latter, made by steeping in 

 hot water. Put the whole on cool, about 

 the consistency of cream. 



In tubs, under the vines, in a grapery, a 

 fair crop may be had, if proper care be ta- 

 ken to water occasionally with liquid ma- 

 nure ; always remembering that if the Fig 

 suffers a check for want of food or moisture, 

 it will certainly drop its fruit. 



Fruit in Massachusetts. — The town which 

 raises the greatest quantity, is Wilbraham, 

 Hampden county, amounting to 51,882 

 bushels. West-Cambridge, next, raises 50,- 

 240 bushels. Then follows in course, Dan- 

 vers, Newbury, Hopkinton andRoxbury. As 



far as value is concerned, Brookline stands 

 first, being $37,840 ; West-Cambridge, 

 $25,175; Watertown, $20,000. Nearnes? 

 to market may affect materially the value of 

 fruit; and fine, or very early varieties, may 

 sell for ten times as much as ordinary kinds. 



