FIG-TREE/ 91 



liked. The foliage of the tree is large and elegant, and 

 the mode of fructification is curious ; the pulpy part, whioh 

 we call the fruit, being, in fact, a common receptacle, and 

 the anthers and stigmata being produced inside. The 

 nomenclature of figs is still very uncertain, and it is with 

 some hesitation that we give the following names : 



Of these the Marseilles, the Early White, Black Ischia, 

 and Brown Turkey, are the best adapted for forcing ; the 

 others are suitable for walls. Lee's Perpetual answers 

 well for either mode of culture ; but is not recognized by 

 Loudon or by Lindley as a distinct variety. 



Fig-trees may be propagated by cuttings put into flower- 

 pots, and placed in a gentle hot-bed. They are, however, 

 most speedily obtained from layers. The shoots laid down 

 should be two or three years old ; and those when rooted 

 will form plants ready to bear fruit the first or second 

 year after planting. Suckers ought never to be used. 



In some places in England, fig-trees are planted out as 

 standards ; and in Kent and Sussex, a few small fig orch- 

 ards exist. In Scotland, a south wall is indispensable, 

 trained to which, in good situations, and when the trees 

 are old enough, they bear remarkably well. The best soil 

 for a fig border is a rich friable loam, on a subsoil not re- 

 tentive of moisture, or which has been effectually drained 

 It is advantageous to have a lofty wall, and the trees 

 should be planted at considerable distances, perhaps not 

 nearer than forty feet, to allow them full space to exhaust 

 their luxuriance. 



