PROPAGATION OF FIGS 335 



affected by local conditions, for there are places in the Sierra foot- 

 hills where the soil moisture has to be replenished early in the 

 season by irrigation to prevent even the first crop from falling 

 prematurely, and subsequent irrigation brings to perfection the 

 second and third crops. The fig tree needs plenty of moisture in 

 the soil, but not too much. As with other fruits, if the soil does not 

 retain the needed amount naturally, it must be supplied by irriga- 

 tion, wisely administered, because over-irrigation on soils which 

 cannot carry away surplus water has produced fruit which has 

 soured and is otherwise rendered unprofitable. 



PROPAGATION OF THE FIG 



The fig grows very rapidly from cuttings, and this is the chief 

 method of propagation. Cuttings should be made while the tree is 

 fully dormant, in the winter, of well-matured wood of the previous 

 season's growth, giving preference to the stocky, short-jointed 

 shoots. Tip cuttings can be made from the ends of long shoots if 

 the wood is well matured, round and smooth, not angular and 

 wrinkled. Short lateral shoots ending in a tip-bud are preferable and 

 they are usually made ten or twelve inches in length and planted 

 with only one bud above ground. If enough tip cuttings are hard 

 to get, lower cuts can be used carefully sealing the tops with as- 

 phaltum grafting wax. In cuttings of figs always cut through the 

 joint where the wood is hardest. Particular attention must be given 

 to prevent fig cuttings from drying out. The life goes out of them 

 very easily. 



The planting and care of the cutting is essentially the same as 

 of vine cuttings, already described. If well made and cared for, a 

 very satisfactory growth is made the first season, and the trees are 

 ready for planting out in permanent place the following season. 



Single Bud Cuttings. If one desires to multiply a new variety 

 very rapidly single-eye cuttings will make plants. This is, also, 

 analogous to single-eye grape cuttings, as already described. 



Budding the Fig. The foregoing means enable one to propagate 

 a fig so rapidly that recourse is not had to budding, as in propaga- 

 ting other trees ; still, budding is feasible, either on small plants or 

 on young shoots of old trees which it is desired to bud over. 



The fig may be budded by the common shield method, as used 

 for ordinary fruit trees, as described in Chapter IX, but owing to 

 the tendency of the fig bark to shrink in drying, the bud should be 

 closely bound in with a narrow waxed band, to exclude the air. 

 As the bark is thick, it is often desirable to cut out a little of the 

 edges closest to the bud when in place. 



Another method of budding the fig is by annular or "ring bud- 

 ding," a method also relied upon with the walnut and chestnut. 

 AJnnular budding is done in the fall. A circular ring of bark is 

 taken off from the stock by the aid of a budding knife, by running 

 two circular cuts around the stock, and a longitudinal one between 

 the two circular cuts ; the ring of bark taken off must be at least 

 one inch wide, and from that up to two inches. A like ring of bark 



