PLANTING AND PRUNING THE FIG 329 



way to lay out a fig- orchard the intermediate growths to be removed 

 as the figs require more room. 



Very handsome effects are produced by planting the figs along 

 avenues to inclose orchards of other fruits. Fig trees are grand for 

 shade around buildings, and wild or Capri figs are desirable to plant in 

 this way for a purpose which will be mentioned later. 



In transplanting fig trees extra care must be taken to keep the roots 

 from drying. After planting, the stem must be diligently guarded from 

 sunburn, to which it is liable in the warmer parts of the State. 



Pruning the Fig. The fig requires very little pruning after its 

 shape is outlined. There is difference of opinion and practice as to the 

 height at which the head should be formed ; some head nearly as low as 

 already advised for common orchard trees ; others, having in mind the 

 immense thickness attained by the limbs, and their disposition to droop, 

 head as high as four to six feet, which is the better way to proceed 

 when the trees are wide-spaced and expected to attain large size. 



In shaping the tree, branches should be brought out at a distance 

 apart on the stem, so that there may be room for their expansion with- 

 out crowding each other, and care should be taken not to leave too many 

 main limbs. Three limbs, well placed around the stem, are enough. The 

 branches putting out on the under side of these limbs should be sup- 

 pressed, and those growing upright, or obliquely upright, retained. As 

 the fig has pithy shoots it is very desirable to cover all cuts with paint 

 or wax. After getting the general shape of the tree fixed, there is little 

 need of pruning except to remove defective branches or those which 

 cross and interfere with each other and to prevent the interior of the 

 tree from becoming too dense. It is better to remove branches entirely 

 than to shorten them ; or, in shortening, always cut to a strong lateral. 

 Stubs left at pruning are very undesirable in the fig. 



Cultivation. Young fig orchards are cultivated as are other 

 fruit areas. Old trees which completely shade the ground are usually 

 left to themselves, without cultivation, except cutting out weeds. Irri- 

 gation is governed by local conditions, as already stated. In starting 

 the orchard it is exceedingly important that the young trees should 

 not be allowed to suffer from drying out of the soil. 



Bearing Age of the Fig. The fig often, and, perhaps, usually, 

 begins its bearing very early, in the most favorable situations in this 

 State. Some fruit is often had the second year, and a crop worth 

 handling the third year. Still, it is wiser not to calculate definitely 

 upon such returns, for four or five years sometimes pass without a 

 satisfactory crop. We have, also, instances of "barren fig trees," which 

 persist in "dropping their untimely figs," year after year, during their 

 youth. How much of this is due to variety, and how much to locality, 

 is not definitely known, but successful fruiting has been secured by 

 grafting over barren trees, using scions from bearing trees growing 

 adjacent to them. This has no relation to the subject which will be 

 next discussed. 



