ATignst 5, leeg. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



93 



THE POT-CULTIVATION OF THE FIG. 



CHE colleclion of Figs now in the possession of 

 tlie Royal Horticultm-al Society at Cliiswick 

 extends to over l.iO varieties, and it is, per- 

 haps, the most complete in existence. Thirty 

 varieties were exhibited at the Manchester 

 Show as an example of what may be done in 

 tlie way of cultivating them in pots, which is 

 the method adopted by tlie Society in proving 

 this class of fruits. 



The following remaris are intended to 

 apply chiefly to Fig trees grown in pots. There is no 

 mode of culture wliioh has so many advantages, and none 

 for which tlio plant itself is so particularly well adapted. 

 One great recommendation of pot-cultui'e is the immense 

 variety that can be grown in a very small space, so that 

 by a proper selection of varieties an almost continual 

 supply may be obtained. The Fig bears more profusely 

 in pots than when planted out. excepting in the case of 

 large old trees. The Fig is a gross feeder, and when 

 planted out it is difficult, especially while the plants are 

 young, to restrict the action of the roots ; and thus, instead 

 of fruit, nothing but gross shoots are produced. Plants in 

 pots, on the contrary, are perfectly under the control of 

 the cultivator, and bear fruit ahundantly. Further, the 

 fruits produced from plants in pots are generally of a far 

 richer and higher quality, if proper attention is paid to 

 watering, &c. 



One of the most puzzling circumstances in connection 

 with Figs is the casting of the fruit, which is very prevalent 

 with plants in pots. Many theories have heen advanced, 

 and many articles written as to the probable cause of this, 

 and how to prevent it, but with little practical result, for 

 as yet nothing defhiite has been arrived at. It is, without 

 doubt, due to some defect of the setting, yet how or from 

 what cause this defect arises I have never been able to 

 determine. Some varieties, even particular trees, are more 

 liable to cast their fruit than others, and that under all 

 kinds of treatment ; while others receiving the same treat- 

 ment in every respect do not cast tliem. It is not the 

 sickly trees that are so much subject to the evil, neither is 

 it the gross-growing ones, but generally those which seem 

 in the best possible condition. It is the first crop, too, more 

 rarely the second, that is cast. It is ascribed by some to a 

 sudden check, to coldness, to dryness at the root, or the 

 reverse, or to too much moisture at the time of setting the 

 fruit. All of these conditions are injurious to a certain ex- 

 tent, yet none of them suificiently accounts for tlie evil. It 

 is not coldness, as the evil generally occurs at the warmest 

 season of the year. It is not dryness at the root, nor 

 excessive moisture, as I have had plants subjected to each 

 extreme — the one potbound and flagging nearly every daj', 

 the other with the pot and roots standing in a pan of 

 water, and in neitlier case did tlie tree cast its fruits ; 

 while others along-siile, treated ia the usual manner, did so. 

 There are two or three trees at Cliiswick which invariably 

 cast their fruit every year, in spite of every precaution. 

 -Although Figs will grow in almost any situation, there 



Ko. 130.- Vol. XVII., New Series. ' : u^.., ,j.\ 



is no plant more benefited by the full and direct rays of 

 the sun ; the Fig house, therefore, should be of a light and 

 airy description, so that the plants may be fully exposed 

 to the sun's influence, for on that depends the proper 

 ripening of the wood and the production of the future 

 crop, as well as the flavouring of the fruit. A vinery, or 

 some such place, in which to start them into growth in 

 spring, is very suitable. The plants may remain under the 

 Vines until they are in full leaf, when they must be 

 removed to more sunny quarters. Fig trees while growing 

 delight in a close, moist, warm atmosphere. In order to 

 start them into growth a temperature of 50° by night will 

 be sufficient ; as the plants advance, the temperature may 

 be gradually increased to (i5° or 70°. During the summer 

 very little fire heat will be requii'ed, as by closing the 

 house early in the afternoon a very high temperatiu'e may 

 be maintained by sun heat alone. By day the tempera- 

 ture, if by sun heat, may be allowed to rise to 90°, 100°, or 

 even higher, keeping the atmosphere very moist by fre- 

 quently syringing all over the plants, paths, &c., even in 

 the bright simshine. In fact, the warmer and moister 

 the atmosphere is the better the plants seem to thrive. 

 By this mode of treatment red spider, tlu-ips, &o., the 

 great scourges of Figs in a dry atmosphere, are effectually 

 kept in check. 



The assistance of fire heat is very little required for 

 Figs during the summer, only on very cold niglits and to 

 assist in ripening the fruit of the later varieties. When 

 the fruit is ripening air must bo admitted rather freely, and a 

 drier and more bracing atmosphere obtained, as Figs, like 

 all other fruits, are much improved in flavour by having a 

 brisk atmosphere surrounding them while ripening. 



The Fig will grow in almost any land of soil ; that, how- 

 ever, in which it seems to thi-ive best, and to bear the 

 greatest abundance of fruit, is a pretty good yeUow loam, 

 resting on a chalky or dry gravelly subsoil. For pot- 

 cultivation I have found the foUowhig soil answer well : — 

 Two-thh-ds good yellow loam, to one-thu-d lime or brick 

 rubbish, with a free admixture of rotten manure, charcoal, 

 and burnt ashes. When the plants are young they should 

 have a liberal allowance of pot-room, so as to grow them 

 rapidly up to the required size. They will produce fruit, 

 however, in a very small pot. I have fruited them abun- 

 dantly in flinch pots. The most eligible size, and that 

 which I should recommend as large enough for all general 

 purposes is the 12-inch pot— /.(,■, li inches in diameter, 

 in which were grown those exhibited. The same trees 

 may be grown in the same pots for a great number of 

 years. Our practice is to repot all the trees A^-hile they 

 are at rest during winter, shaking olT a great portion of 

 the old soil, and shortening the roots considerably in the 

 same way as is practised with Pelargoniums. During the 

 summer, when the pots are nearly filled with rocta, much 

 benefit will bo derived from frequently top-dressing with 

 rotten nmnure mixed with a little loam. 



Figs while gi-owing freely require a very liberal supply 

 of water ; indeed, if the pots are tolerably full of roots they 

 can scarcely be over-supplied. Manure water may alfo 

 be applied with advantage. ^Vhen flic fruit, is ripening, 



"'-''' '• ■• ■ '■'■'' ••' '■■ No. IJSS. -Vol.. XLII., Cm. SEiirFL' 



