194 Fruit 



The roots of fig trees should not be permitted to 

 spread at will. A very good plan is to make an 

 underground wall of bricks or cement for confining 

 the roots to a limited space. Rank growth will 

 produce poor fruit. 



Fig trees should have a well drained soil and plenty 

 of humus should be supplied them. 



Figs should be picked immediately after ripening. 

 They will quickly turn sour if left on the tree and 

 a horde of insects will be after them. Figs for 

 preserving should be picked just before they are 

 ready to eat. Ripe figs will not last more than 

 twenty-four hours after ripening. 



In pruning fig trees, cut off about two inches of 

 new shoots. The fruits mature principally on 

 wood from a year to two years old. The branches 

 should not be permitted to overcrowd one another, 

 one shoot for every four or five inches of branch 

 is quite enough. 



Mealy-bug on fig trees should be guarded against 

 by brushing the branches and shoots with a hard, 

 stiff-bristled brush, dipped in kerosene emulsion. 

 When canker attacks the trees, coat all wounds with 

 tar as a preventive of infection. 



