Di at ne 
FIG CULTURE IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 53 
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL FRANCE, 
In the vicinity of Paris fig culture rises to a prominent horticultural 
imdustry in at least two localities—at Argenteuil and at Frette. 
Through care and ingenuity most excellent figs are raised there in the 
open ground and under a climate not naturally adapted to the fig. 
During three hundred years Argenteuil has supplied Paris with fresh 
figs, and fig culture in that locality has reached a scientific development 
not known elsewhere. The methods followed there are superior to any 
employed elsewhere in similar or higher latitudes and produce better 
results than figs grown against walls and protected by mattings during 
the winter months. If the methods of Argenteuil and Frette were 
adopted in the.United States fig culture would prove profitable even 
in a number of places in the vicinity of many of the large cities east 
of the Rocky Mountains, where there is always a market for choice 
fruit. In the hope that such a culture will soon spring up a minute 
description is given of the processes used for perfecting or, as they 
eall it, for ‘“‘educating” the figs in Argenteuil. 
LOCALITY AND CONDITION. 
The best place for a fig orchard is a warm exposure toward the 
south, sheltered as far as possible from heavy winds, as the latter 
destroy the fruit irreparably. Locations free from spring frosts are, 
of course, to be preferred; in fact they should be the only ones 
selected, as late frosts retard the maturing of the figs and may even 
entirely spoil the crop. Argenteuil and Frette are favorably situated, 
but still they suffer from frosts in February and March almost every 
year. The best soil is calcareous loam of great depth and warmth. 
HOW TO START THE TREES, 
The fig plantations are generally started from trees. These again 
are grown from cuttings about 16 inches long, taken in February or 
March or as soon as the branches are disinterred. These are planted 
in nursery, leaving only two eyes above the ground. In November 
these cuttings will have obtained good roots, and as the leaves will 
then have fallen with the first frosts, the cuttings may be taken up 
and used for immediate planting. In case planting shall be delayed 
until the following spring it will be necessary to cover the rooted 
cuttings in a way similar to that done by the trees, the process of 
which will be described presently. 
FORMING THE ORCHARD, 
The trees are planted either singly or in rows, squares, or quincunx, 
about 9 to 10 feet apart. No large plantations exist, as the great 
labor and care necessary for success would make supervision of large 
orchards impossible. The holes for the trees are dug about 3 feet 
square and about 2 feet deep. One or two trees are planted in every 
hole. When two trees are set in one hole this is done not only in 
