309 

 CULTIVATION 



Any fairly good soil is suitable for the Fig, and it does equally well 

 in neavy or light land. The land should be well worked if of a heavy, 

 retentive character, but in light, porous soils deep stiring is not so 

 essential. Drainage must be provided for when necessary, as the Fig, 

 even more than many other trees, is impatient of its roots standing for 

 a length of time in soddened ground. Fully-developed trees, when 

 growing under favourable conditions, will attain a height of from 

 twenty to twenty-five feet, and must not stand closer than from twenty 

 four to twenty-seven feet if it is desired that they should grow to the 

 largest size. Some growers, however, do not care about large trees, and 

 prefer those that are more dwarf in habit. There is some reason in this 

 preference, as dwarf trees are more easily managed in gathering the 

 fruit and other respects. Dwarf trees are also more suitable for small 

 places, where a number of fruits are required upon limited areas. Trees 

 may in a great measure be kept down by severe root pruning and 

 avoiding highly stimulating manures. The most favourable time for 

 planting is in July, though it may be done at any time between the fall 

 of the leaf and the starting of grow r th in the spring. 



The Fig requires but little in the way of pruning when the trees 

 reach maturity if growth has been properly regulated previously. Young 

 trees, as a matter of course, must have their branches thinned out or 

 shortened, in order to get a strong woody growth and heads of the 

 desired form. Sometimes, owing to local circumstances such as a very 

 rich soil, using manure too freely, or the natural vigour of the variety 

 trees will make a rampant growth of wood, and produce but little fruit, 

 This is a very common thing with Figs, and the evil can only be 

 counteracted by root pruning, which should be done before growth 

 commences. By adopting this plan the growth of over-luxuriant trees 

 will be materially checked, and in most cases their fruitfulness is 

 increased. 



The Fig always produces two, and sometimes three, crops of fruit, 

 which are borne upon -wood of various ages. As a rule the second 

 crop is the largest, and yields the best fruit. Fructification occurs in 

 a somewhat singular manner, there being no visible flowers, and fruit 

 rises from the wood in the shape of small buds. These are perforated 

 at the ends, but do not show the organs of fructification, which are 

 concealed within. As the fruit enlarges the flower comes to maturity 

 in its concealment. The pollen, being confined in this manner, requires 

 the assistance of insects to disperse it, as without this help the fruit 

 becomes abortive and drops off early. European cultivators assist in 

 bringing about fertilization, or caprificatioii as it is termed, by inserting 

 straws, which have been dipped in olive oil, to mix the pollen. In 

 Turkey and Syria the operation is assisted by hanging branches of 

 the wild Fig in the trees. These wild Figs are infested with a species 

 of cynips, which, in its winged state, penetrates the cultivated fruit, 

 and so effectively disperses the pollen. This insect, which is known 

 as Blastophaga psnes, (grossum) and commonly as the Caprificatioii 



