246 The Culture of the Fig. 



mence with very gentle fires if the weather was cold ; but, if 

 mild, no fires would be required for a week or two. The 

 temperature at first should be about 45 degrees, to rise the 

 third or fourth [week ? j to from 55 to 60 degrees, and gradu- 

 ally to be raised to 65 or 70 degrees fire-heat, and, with sun- 

 heat, to 75 or 80 degrees, giving plenty of air in fine weather, 

 and syringing mornings and evenings. During the first six 

 or seven weeks, water is only to be given in such quantities 

 as to keep the soil moderately moist; but, as the fruit increases 

 in size, and the foliage is fully developed, water is to be given 

 more freely. When the fruit is about half grown, water is 

 given freely, and liquid manure once or twice a week. The 

 essayist considered it most important, when the young shoots 

 have obtained the length of ten or twelve inches, to press the 

 point between the finger and thumb, Avithout letting the nails 

 come in contact with the bark, till the soft succulent sub- 

 stance is felt to yield to the pressure. Such branches will, in 

 consequence, cease subsequently to elongate, and the sap, be- 

 ing depressed, is expended where it is more wanted. A fruit 

 ripens at the base of each leaf; and, during the period of ripen- 

 ing, one, or more, of the lateral buds shoot, and is subse- 

 quently subjected to the same treatment, with the same re- 

 sults. When the shoots are allowed to extend freely to their 

 natural length, a small part of them only become productive, 

 either in the same or in the ensuing season. He had made 

 several experiments to obtain fruit in the following spring 

 from other parts of such branches without success ; but he 

 found that, by bending such branches, as far as could be done 

 without breaking them, they were rendered fruitful; twelve 

 figs having ripened perfectly in one season upon a branch of 

 this kind within the space of fourteen inches. In training, 

 the ends of the shoots to be bent downwards as much as pos- 

 sible. The fig tree is distinguished from most, if not all other 

 trees, by the extraordinary property that it bears, and brings 

 forth, two crops every year, each crop being produced upon a 

 distinct set of shoots. During the growth of the second crop 

 of fruit, the tree produces a second shoot, which, when per- 

 fectly ripened, contains in embryo, through the winter, the 

 crop for the following spring. As the first crop of fruit ap- 

 proached maturity, he advised the watering over head to be 



