86 HINTS ON PROFITABLE FRUIT GROWING. 



FIGS. 



WHERE a greenhouse is available, such as a cool fernery, 

 figs are often found to be quite a profitable crop. They 

 can be grown either as bush trees in pots, or planted out 

 in borders, and trained up like vines under the glass. 



If good-bearing sorts are selected, they will produce 

 two and three crops per annum ; in fact, some smaller 

 varieties seem to be almost continuous bearers four or 

 five months, when well established in congenial situa- 

 tions. 



Figs thrive best in a soil that is not too rich. Chalky 

 and rather light well-drained ground suits them best. 



Where there is a ready sale near at hand the White 

 Marseilles is of the finest quality, but this sort does not 

 keep nor travel so well as the Brown Turkey or Bruns- 

 wick. " Negro Largo " is a very prolific variety, and 

 does well in pots. Black Italian is a constant bearer. 

 There are other choice sorts obtainable at most large 

 nurseries. 



In warm situations, especially on the south coast at 

 times, Brown Turkey figs thrive well out-doors as 

 orchard fruit. Near Worthing there are several notable 

 fig gardens, which bring good crops to maturity almost 

 every year. On sunny walls, with a good, light, chalky, 

 dry soil, figs are worth trying in all parts of the 

 kingdom. Let the ground be well trenched, and a fair 

 proportion of old mortar be mixed with the soil, if not 

 on chalk, and get carefully-selected trees from depend- 

 able firms. 



Figs have few diseases or enemies, but they are often 

 liable to the young fruit dropping, either from the soil 

 being undrained, or too heavy, or more frequently from 



