Cultivation of the Fig under Glass. 355 



short-jointed well-ripened shoots, at the extremities of which 

 the first crop for next year will be produced. 



In the course of treatment pursued I have arrived at the 

 following conclusions : — 



1st. That the recommendations of old authors with regard 

 to making borders for this tree are unnecessary, as the largest 

 trees are capable of growing in the least imaginable quantity 

 of earth upon a well-drained hillock of brickbats and old 

 mortar rubbish, or on natural rocks. 



2ndly. That although generally considered a gross feeder, 

 soft pond-water in copious supply during the swelling of the 

 fruit seems to contain enough of nutritive matter for its de- 

 mands, as trees treated to the often recommended and potent 

 liquid manure have not produced figs equal in size to those I 

 am speaking of But be it remembered that I speak not of 

 cold spring- water from a pump, but of that from a stagnant 

 pond, softened and chilled by exposure, and presenting an al- 

 most gelatinous appearance from the multitude of animal- 

 culcB with which it is teeming. 



3rdly. One difficulty presents itself in the cultivation of 

 figs which I have at last triumphed over. It is well known 

 that the foliage is much subject to the attacks of red spider 

 (Arurus telurius), and syringing sharply to keep this pest in 

 subjection is necessary ; but after the fruit has advanced to 

 its last stage of swelling, dryness is indispensable to its per- 

 fection : bright solar light and an arid atmosphere are the 

 conditions essential to produce well-ripened figs, and the red 

 spider must be kept down by applying sulphur to the flues, 

 or any surface upon which the sun can shine and cause its 

 fumes to be exhaled. So tender is the skin, and such is the 

 disposition of ripe figs to mouldiness, that every vestige of 

 moisture must be avoided during the ripening period ; al- 

 though the root-watering must not cease, it should only be 

 done early in the morning, when the dampness arising from 

 it is soon dispelled by the admission of air. 



4thly. There is no fruit more benefited than this by full 

 exposure to light. To insure this it would not be wise to 

 strip off the leaves to some extent, as I have seen practised, 



