Chap. XXII.] 



FIG CULTURE NEAR PARIS. 



375 



year 



steep slopes of railway embankments. Henceforward the young 



shoots growing from the stock arc carefully cut ofl"; otherwise 



they would weaken the larger branches. These 



precautions are taken during the fifth year. 

 In the spring of the sixth year the oldest 



branches are of the form shown in our illustration. 



The operation of nipping-off the buds at the end 



of each branch is performed as soon as the un- 

 covered trees begin to show signs of springing 



into leaf; that is to say, on some fine day the 



bud on the end of each lateral shoot is pinched off 



so as to favour the formation of buds on the wood 



lower down, as well as for the encouragement of 



any young Figs that already show signs of making 



their appearance. About one-half of the buds 



on the side-branches are also pinched off, choosing 



tliose that are nearest to the young Figs. Two, 



however, are always left on near the base of each 



branch, and one towards the tip, in order to 



draw up the sap. The end-shoot of each branch 



is treated in a similar manner, but with this 



difference, that the bud immediately below the 



one at the end is allowed to remain on, as well as one or two 



more for the purpose of producing side-branches, which ought to 

 be left about a foot from each other on 

 each stem. As soon as the young shoots 

 are about two inches long, the shoots on all 

 the lateral branches and on the end-branch 

 are nipped off— a fine day being chosen for 

 the purpose. Of the former only a single 

 shoot — the one nearest the base of the 

 branch — is allowed to remain so as to re- 

 place the one which bears the fruit of the 

 year. The shoot at the end of the terminal 

 branch is allowed to remain, and some of 

 the lateral ones intended to bear fruit 

 in the following year. These last are 



spaced out so that they may receive an equal amount of sunshine 



without being interwoven or rubbing their leaves against the 



2 c 2 



■>/ Fi^ the sixth 

 after planting. 

 The points of the 

 shoots A, A, A, A, 

 are pinched off in 

 Spring to favour the 

 development of the 

 Figs, and also of 

 luood-buds at the base 

 of the shoots. 



Fig-branch luith young Figs. 

 The lateral side buds A, B, B, 

 B, are pinched in Spring, — t^uo 

 at the base, D, D, and one at 

 the apex, C, being left. 



