PROPAGATION OF THE FIG. 139 
tub filled with water, running water being best. One night in water 
will generally revive most cuttings—that is, if they are not absolutely 
dead—and cause them to become plump again. Some cuttings in 
every lot are, however, irreparably injured by drying out, and these 
should; if the least shriveled, be thrown out at planting and no risk 
taken with them. If the variety is very valuable these injured ecut- 
tings may possibly be saved, and they should be cared for separately. 
The very small tips or single-eye fig cuttings should be allowed to 
remain in boxes, covered with moist or slightly damp sand in such 
a way that no part of them remains exposed. All such tips should be 
grown under glass or cover or in separate beds, where they can be 
given necessary care. 
The following are the main points in caring for the cuttings: 
(1) Plant, if possible, as soon as made. 
(2) Do not expose to the sun. 
(3) Heel in a trench, leaving not more than two eyes exposed. 
(4) Tamp the soil in the trench so as to exclude the air and prevem 
drying. 
(5) Keep moist, but not wet. 
(6) Prevent rooting or callusing by‘occasional drying. 
(7) Examine the cuttings every two days. 
(8) Very short cuttings should be entirely covered. 
(9) If dried out, revive at once by immersing in water or by covet 
ing entirely with wet soil. 
(10) Never cover with wet straw. 
(11) If callused when planting, cut off the callused part. 
PLANTING CUTTINGS IN NURSERY ROWS. 
Mark off the field by driving pegs in two parallel rows, the pegs in 
each row to be 4 feet apart. The best chain or line that can be used 
is five-ply twisted wire, generally known as ‘‘cable.” After the pegs 
are set stretch the cable between two opposite pegs, and while the 
cable rests on the ground cut out a V-trench along the cable by means 
of the Italian broad hoe. In making the trench the flat edge of the hoe 
is slapped on the ground as close to the cable as possible and parallel 
to it. By pulling the hoe toward the workman a small trench is exca- 
vated which can be made sufficiently deep by twice repeating the 
stroke. Three men can perform this work to the best advantage—one 
at each end and one in the center of the cable. As soon as the cable 
is stretched all three men begin the digging of the trench. The cut- 
tings should be planted by a separate gang of men as soon as each 
trench is ready. The planting is simple. The cuttings are placed 
vertically against the perpendicular side of the trench, about 10 inches 
apart, and sufficiently deep to leave one eye above the soil and one 
eye just in the surface line. As soon as a part of a row of cuttings is 
set, one man should follow with an Italian hoe and serape the soil 
