CHAP. VII VILLA GARDENIXG 355 



Figs ill pots need not be repotted every year, unless much root- 

 bound ; but as much of the top soil as possible should be removed, 

 and fresh compost added. Turfy loam from the top of an old 

 pasture, mixed with a fourth part of old horse -droppings, and a 

 good sprinkle of bone-dust and old plaster or mortar, all thoroughly 

 intermixed, will form an excellent compost, with liquid manure 

 ad libitum, when the time of trial comes — i.e. when the fruits are 

 swelling off. The cultural details are the same for potted trees as 

 for others. Figs thrive in a mild bottom-heat when grown in pots. 

 I well remember that many years ago magnificent crops were 

 gathered from plants elevated on inverted pans over a flue, and 

 much the same success has followed the plunging of the pots in a 

 mild hotbed of leaves, such as used to be common enough in 

 vineries years ago. Bottom-heat is not a necessity of Fig culture 

 any more than it is necessary for vines, though plenty of instances 

 might be brought forward where both had benefited by its use. 

 Except in the case of Pines and Melons, if bottom-heat is used at 

 all, it should be given in a mild form, and must be very regular 

 and steady. It is because of the difficulty of securing this regu- 

 larity and steadiness that wise men, unless quite sure of their 

 position, do not employ artificial aids of this character. All the 

 water used for watering or syringing Fig trees when forced should 

 have the chill taken off it to bring it up to 5° or so above the 

 temperatm-e of the house they are growing in. 



Propagation. — The usual methods of propagation are cuttings 

 and layers ; suckers may be altogether discarded as not suitable, 

 having a tendency to make soft shoots. New varieties are raised 

 from seeds, and some day something more will be done in the 

 direction of raising new varieties from seed. The Fig is not often 

 grafted, but it is a very useful plan to adopt in the ease of seed- 

 lings, as it expedites their fruiting. If a shoot of a seedling Fig 

 be grafted on a branch of the White Nerii or Brown Tiu'key, fruit 

 may be detained the same season. In -arching, or grafting by 

 approach, is the best method, and it is one anybody with a sharp 

 knife can perform. Bring the two shoots together, cut a slice off 

 each, fit and bind them together, and keep them in that position 

 till the union is effected, when the seedling shoot should be severed 

 from its parent, and the shoot above the graft be removed. The 

 Fig will succeed by other modes of grafting, but the method de- 

 scribed above may be done any time, and is certain in its result. 

 Cuttings of ripened wood 7 or 8 inches long, preferably witli a heel 

 of old wood, will root in bottom-heat in spring, and soon make nice 

 plants for fruiting in pots or planting out. Layers in autumn soon 

 form roots, and may be detached at the end of twelve months. 



