360 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTUEE. 



on tlie trees and slirnbs. A proper substantinl fence is ji^rcatly needed 

 to inclose the grounds and insure greater certainty in the results Ironi 

 propagating operations. When uni)rotected Irora depredators, no- ab- 

 solute certainty can be guaranteed in preserving the nomenclature of 

 the plants in the cutting-beds, in consequence of tl*e liability of the 

 labels being displaced beyond the jiossibility of accurate readjustment. 



FIGS. 



In the ordinary winters here, fig trees are killed to the ground even 

 when the young wood has been as perfectly matured as the climate will 

 admit. The branches can be preserved by bending them down and pro- 

 tecting tliem by a covering of soil. But occasionally early frosts will 

 destroy the foliage and arrest growth before the wood lias become ma- 

 tured ; in this condition covering is of but little avail. Towards the end 

 of October of the present year the thermometer indicated 18 degrees of 

 frost, which amount of cold had the effect of destroying the yearly 

 growths on all the varieties in the collection, and in the case of young 

 X^la-nts killed them completely.. To guard against such casualties iu 

 lutui'e, and to insure a supply of cuttings for distribution, a glazed 

 structure has been assigned to the growth of a small but select collec- 

 tion of varieties of the fig. The house is single-roofed, and the plants 

 are trained against the wall. The object liere being more for tbe pur- 

 pose of procuring shoots for cuttings than that of ]H'ocuring quantities 

 of fruit, the border for the roots is kept well enriched so as to encourage 

 a liixuriant growth of wood, the ripening of which can be secured by 

 withholding water from the border as winter approaches. 



In northern localities where the fig will not endure the winter unpro- 

 tected, it will be found profitable to cultivate them under glass. The 

 care of a fig house is much less than that required for a cold grapery, 

 and the crop quite as certain and more valuable to those who fully ap- . 

 preciate tiie vahie of fresh figs. With a judicious selection of varieties 

 the plants would bear continuously during sunnner; each j)] ant ripening 

 two crops of perfect fruit would afford a daily sujjply for many months. 



The soil for fruiting figs should not be made rich ; a gravelly or sandy 

 loam, rather poor than otherwise, will ])roduce the best results. A rich 

 soil encourages a heavy wood-growth at the expense of the crop of fruit. 



FOREIGN GRAPES. 



A large collection of foreign grapes is cultivated in the grape honse, 

 mainly for the purpose of furnisliing wood for propagating plants. The 

 young plants are distributed principally in Florida and Texas, in which 

 States some of the varieties are said to succeed in the Oi)en air quite as 

 well as they do in Galifornia. 



A brief description of some of the more recently introduced varieties 

 is here^vith given : 



Mrs. Pincers Blade Muscat — This grape is represented as a late frait of 

 much merit, and keeping a long time after being ripe. After fruiting it 

 for several years, it proves to be of but little value. The berries set 

 very irregularly, and in consequence the bunches are imperfect. It is 

 only mediuui in point of flavor, and is not distinguished for keeping- 

 qualities after ripening. 



Mandersfield Court. — A free-growing, x>i'olific variety. The fruit is 

 juicy and not high flavored. The berries are liable to crack open and 

 decoiupose as they iii)en, unless the soil is quite dry. It is not of par- 

 ticular value. 



