CHAPTER VII. 
PLANTING A FIG ORCHARD. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
The planting of an orchard includes several different operations, 
such as preparing the ground, setting the stakes, digging the holes, 
and setting the trees, as well as their care immediately after planting. 
As all these processes are of importance and should be intelligently 
performed, they will be considered separately. 
Opinions differ in regard to these operations more than in any 
others pertaining to fig culture, and the respective horticulturists use 
different means by which the same object is more or less speedily and 
properly attained. Most of these methods employed in planting a fig 
orchard are equally applicable to the planting of any other fruit trees. 
Still, the fig tree possesses peculiarities which must be considered and 
humored in order to attain success as speedily and practically as 
possible. These peculiarities of the fig consist principally in growth 
and habit, in mode of bearing, in aptness to break down, in suscepti- 
bility to heat and dry winds, ete. In this respect the fig tree stands 
almost isolated among fruit trees and shade trees. One theory holds 
that the fig tree should be treated very much like a wild tree, and 
that, because in many places in the Old Worid fig trees are allowed to 
take care of themselves and to grow as they please in odd corners, 
they should receive no serious attention—especially so the caprifig 
tree, which should be left to nature as much as possible. Like so 
many other trees, the fig tree may be planted almost anywhere and in 
any way and still give fruit; but, in order to insure the greatest suc- 
cess aS much care should be given the fig tree as to any other fine 
variety of fruit. 
The tree which comes nearest to the fig as regards horticultural 
peculiarities and wants is undoubtedly the olive, though it differs 
widely from the fig in many respects; but in planting and care these 
two trees require very much the same treatment. 
DISTANCES FOR FIG TREES. 
Of all our fruit trees the edible fig tree requires the greatest amount 
of space in the orchard. Much, however, depends upon the variety 
grown. Small-growing kinds like the Brunswick, the Ischias, Mar- 
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