CHAPTER VIII. 
PRUNING FIGS. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
The pruning of the fig tree must be regulated according to the age 
of the tree, as a young tree just planted must be pruned radically 
different from one which has been grown in the orchard a year or 
more. This remark refers only to the fig tree as grown in the semi- 
tropical regions and not to trees growing in more northern climates. 
The pruning of the latter will be remarked on under the headings of 
the districts where they grow. As a general rule the fig tree requires 
less pruning than does any other fruit tree grown in temperate cli- 
mates, except possibly some species of nut trees. Neglected cutting 
back of recently planted trees may be the indirect cause of their 
dying, while a cutting back of old trees may cause them to be bar- 
ren or to yield inferior crops for years. Still, a proper pruning for 
fig trees is necessary, both to young and old trees; but this pruning, 
although not less important, must be radically different from that 
accorded to other kinds of fruit. This refers especially to old bearing 
trees, aS young fig trees may be pruned in almost any way without 
harm. 
PRUNING LATELY PLANTED TREES. 
All fig trees should be grown in such a manner that the foliage may 
be high enough above the ground to freely admit air and wind. Upon 
this depends not only the growth of the fig tree, but also the quality 
of the fig crop. Six feet to the lower limbs would be a good height to 
give a fig tree grown for fruit. This height may be given at once or 
gradually, and the first pruning should be done with the ultimate 
form in view. Many growers cut their fig trees back after planting 
to within a foot or so of the ground. This is a safe way, as the more 
the young trees are pruned back the surer they will grow. But this 
cutting back has at least one great disadvantage; it causes the side 
stems—the future standards—to come too close together, causing 
them to split off from the main trunk when in a few years they shall 
become sufficiently heavy. There are two ways to avoid this; one is 
to cut the tree at planting close to the ground and allow three differ- 
ent shoots to form the new standards. This is really the natural habit 
of the growth of the tree. All wild figs branch at the roots, and the 
different branches or standards in time grow together at the base, 
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