The Culture of the Fig. 24.7 



discontinued, and an abundance of air to be given. When 

 the first crop is gathered, watering over head is again resumed, 

 and continued until the second crop is ripening; it is then dis- 

 continued. The winter management is merely to keep the 

 borders moderately dry, and prevent the frost from entering. 

 He was opposed to the plan of growing figs under vines, as 

 the fig, being a native of Asia and Barbary, required all the 

 light we can give it in our climate; and, on this account, it 

 ought to have a house entirely devoted to it. — He recommend- 

 ed a few plants to be grown in pots, which could be forced 

 before the fig-house ; this would considerably prolong the suc- 

 cession of fruit. The same routine answered admirably. If 

 bottom heat could be given to the plants in pots, it would ben- 

 efit them. Mr. Scott would use dung with the soil, as the fig 

 was a very gross feeder, and required it ; he would also give 

 the border a good watering of liquid manure at starting, and 

 would not syringe, as it stopped the pores of the leaves. Mr. 

 Saul agreed with the essayist in not using any dung along 

 with the turves: he was of opinion that, if much dung was 

 used, the shoots would not be properly ripened, and, as a nat- 

 ural consequence, there would be no fruit; and differed from 

 Mr. Scott in watering the border, at the commencement, with 

 liquid manure ; it was not needed until the leaves were fully 

 developed, which was about the time recommended by the 

 essayist; he also agreed in syringing, and thought it would 

 not stop the stomates of the leaves, as apprehended by Mr. 

 Scott; but would wash off any dust that might settle on the 

 leaves.— Mr. Mason, Mr. Hood, Mr. Barker, Mr. Watson, Mr. 

 Daniels, and Mr. Headman, coincided with Mr. Slow and Mr, 

 Saul on the points raised by Mr. Scott. — Mr, Patterson agreed 

 with Mr. Scott. — Mr. Hood was opposed to pruning the fig, 

 Mr. Saul said that, as the leaves required light to perform 

 their functions, and as the fig-house, if once full of wood, 

 must, every season after, get more and more crowded, unless 

 the trees were pruned, if left to go on in this manner; they 

 would suffer ten times more than they could under any prun- 

 ing. He would, therefore, prune when the branches, in any 

 way, encroached upon one another. — Mr. Patterson took Mr. 

 Hood's view of the matter ; and Messrs. Steadman, Watson, 

 Mason, Baker, and Daniels, coincided in Mr. Saul's view. 



