311 



hoeings, taking care not to disturb the roots to any great extent. 

 Before the hot weather sets in, let the ground be mulched three or 

 four inches deep, to check rapid evaporation and conserve moisture as 

 much as possible. The Fig tree is a rather strong feeder, and, if 

 necessary, must be kept in good heart by the use of manure occasionally. 

 Manure in large quantities, however, or when of too forcing a nature, 

 is apt to cause over- luxuriance in growth, which is not desirable. 

 When grown under favourable conditions the Fig is naturally a very 

 long-lived tree. The first trees introduced from Italy to England 

 by Cardinal Pole in 1525, and planted it in the grounds of Lambeth 

 Palace, were alive and nourishing but a few years ago. They were 

 of the kind known as the White Marseilles, and when over three 

 hundred years <>ld bore excellent crops of fruit. Another tree of the 

 same variety brought from Aleppo by a Dr. Pocock was planted at 

 Oxford in 1648, and up to 1819 it was in a flourishing condition, 

 bearing heavy crops. IN Cany other well authenticated records exist 

 of Fig trees attaining great ages. The wood of the Fig tree is light 

 and spongy, and but of little value commercially. In the south of 

 Europe it is sometimes used, when charged with oil, for polishing 

 iron and steel. Formerly it was extensively used by the Egyptians 

 in embalming the bodies of their dead. 



PROPAGATION. 



Propagation is effected by seeds, eyes, cuttings, layers, grafts, buds, 

 and suckers. Seeds will vegetate freely as a rule, and the plants 

 generally come fairly true to their parents, but they are several years 

 before they fruit. Cuttings root freely in sand or light soil, and 

 produce vigorous, well-shaped plants. Those of last season's wood, 

 ten or twelve inches long, should be selected, and planted in rows 

 about thirty inches apart, leaving a space of a foot between in the 

 lines. Insert the cuttings about half their depth in the soil. 

 Layers root readily, and very good plants may be obtained by this 

 means. If desirable, plants may also be obtained from single eyes, 

 with a fair portion of wood attached, and planted two or three inches 

 deep. This method, however, is only serviceable in allowing particular 

 varieties to be propagated more quickly than could be done in the 

 ordinary way. Suckers are freely produced, and plants obtained by 

 this means are those mostly used. Grafting may be practised, as also 

 budding, both methods being useful in perpetuating varieties quickly 

 and in substituting better for inferior kinds. What is known as 

 annular, flute, or whistle budding is popular with European gardeners 

 in propagating Figs. Full directions are given at page 21 for practising 

 this method. Probably if the practices of grafting and budding were 

 nuuv generally adopted with the Fig, as with most other fruits, it 

 would be an advantage to growers. Varieties of fruits are often 

 altered materially in character by the influence of the stocks upon 

 which they are worked, and doubtless the Fig may be acted upon 

 by the same means. 



