FIGS SOIL AND MANURES. 185 



or trellises not needing to be more than 4 to 6 feet wide. One-third the height of the 

 wall or trellis is, in many cases, more advantageous than a border of greater width. 

 Where the subsoil is loose and rich, the bottom of the border should be concreted, and 

 the roots limited to the given area by a solid brick wall, built on the concrete. The 

 bottom must incline to a drain having due fall and proper outlet. Provide 12 inches in 

 depth of brick rubble for drainage, on which place a layer of old mortar rubbish or 

 chalk 3 inches thick, and over this 18 inches to 2 feet in depth of soil. These are 

 minimum and maximum depths ; the soil to be firm. 



Compost for Borders, Stations, and Potting. Fig trees delight in sea air its salt 

 dissolves the silica in the soil, and a calcareous or gravelly stratum causes them to grow 

 sturdily. In the absence of a naturally calcareous soil a proper compost must be prepared. 

 This should consist of good hazel or yellow loam the top 3 or 4 inches of a pasture 

 broken up moderately small four parts : if inclined to be light, add one-fifth of chalk in 

 lumps not larger than a hen's egg, and one-sixth of clay marl dried and pounded : if 

 inclined to be heavy, add one-fifth of old mortar rubbish and a sixth part of burned 

 clay, incorporating well. No manure is needed for borders, as the roots are best 

 attracted to the surface by top-dressings and mulching, when nutrient elements can be 

 given as required. Almost any loamy soil will, however, grow good figs if one-fifth of 

 old mortar rubbish be mixed with it, and made firm on a foundation of rubble efficiently 

 drained. Fig trees will thrive better on a heap of stones or lime rubbish than in the 

 richest land, provided there is enough soil to fill the interstices and the whole is compact. 

 For potting, four parts of fresh yellow loam, cne part of old mortar rubbish, one part of 

 well-decayed stable manure, with a sprinkling of crushed ^-inch bones, form a suitable 

 compost. A tenth part of wood ashes is sometimes added advantageously, both for trees 

 in pots and borders. 



Manures. The essential nutrient elements needed by figs are potash and soda. Lime 

 and magnesia are important constituents, and enough is generally present in calcareous 

 soil, but when it is desirable to afford more of those elements, as in the case of trees in 

 pots and small rooting areas, they may be applied in the form of phosphate of lime and 

 sulphate of magnesia. Nitrogenous elements are of essential importance. 



A suitable mixture for the fig consists of superphosphate of lime, 3 pounds ; nitrate of 

 potash, 1 pound ; sulphate of magnesia, \ pound ; chloride of soda, pound ; mix and 

 apply at the rate of 2 to 3 ounces per square yard when the buds commence swelling, and 

 when the first crop is just gathered. Trees in pots may have more frequent applications 



VOL. II. B B 



