CHAP, vii VILLA GARDENING 351 



is, Never lose touch of the roots. If they cannot be hricked or 

 boxed in, their extremities should be frequently lifted in order to 

 prevent them getting out of hand. Figs are often planted on the 

 back walls of vineries or other structures in which they form only 

 a subordinate feature, but this is not the way to do justice to them. 

 They deserve a house to themselves, and in order to make the 

 most of the house the trees should be forced sufficiently to ripen 

 the second crop in time to thoroughly matm'e the wood. This 

 maturation of the w^ood is much aided by the roots being in a 

 proper condition and well under control. The root-run need not 

 be extensive, and may either be altogether inside or altogether out- 

 side, with the exception of a narrow border just within the front 

 wall to plant in. The best way of training the Fig is to make 

 an arched trellis a couple of feet or so from the glass and train 

 the trees over it. The trellis should run through to the back 

 wall, for in the case of the Fig it is better to extend a tree which 

 is doing well, and has its roots luider favom-able conditions, than 

 to plant trees on the back w^all. A border 12 feet wide will be 

 ample for a wide and lofty house. Of this space 10 feet should 

 be outside and 2 feet inside — the trees to be planted inside, the 

 roots being allowed to travel outside when they please. The border 

 should lie well up, to obtain the full benefit of solar w'armth. The 

 bottom should be made impervious, and the front fenced in with a 

 wall of concrete ; but thorougli drainage is most important, as at 

 certain seasons a large-leaved plant like the Fig will require liberal 

 supplies of moisture : therefore the drainage must be good. The 

 soil should have for its main staple a good sound loam — from a 

 limestone formation if it can be had ; but at any rate it should be 

 of a generous nature, with plenty of body in it — not sandy. It need 

 not be more than from 2 to 2i- feet deep, and the only manure 

 given when first made shoidd be crushed bones. These may be 

 added somewhat liberally, or, say, a bushel to every cartload of 

 loam. Calcined oyster shells, if obtainable, will be beneficial, or 

 old plaster from the loulling-down of old buildings. Whatever 

 nourishment the trees require can be given when they need it in 

 summer by dissolving artificial manures in water and pouring it on 

 the border. Figs may be planted any time under glass from the 

 time the leaves fall till March. In planting, the roots should be 

 laid out within 6 inches of the surfiice, and the border should be 

 heavily mulched with half decayed manure. 



Forcing. — In forcing the Fig, about the same temperature as 

 is given in the early vinery will be necessary. Close the house at 

 the beginning of January. Keep the night temperature at 45° the 

 first fortnight, but let it gradually creep up to 50° towards the end 



