1 88 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Span-roofed houses are the best of all for bush, pyramid, and low standard trees, 

 because there is plenty of light on all sides, and with the ends north and south the 

 sun during some part of the day penetrates into the hearts of the trees if the branches 

 be thinly disposed. A span-roofed house 100 feet long, 30 feet wide, 5 feet high to 

 the eaves, and 12 feet to the ridge, in the gardens of the Eoyal Horticultural Society 

 at Chiswick, contains the finest collection of figs in the kingdom. They arc grown 

 in pots of various sizes, arranged on a central bed, also on side stages, and bear 

 prodigiously. 



All fig-houses must have ample means of ventilation, and a free circulation of 

 air is indispensable when the fruits are ripening. Though figs may be grown in 

 unheated houses, all are best with sufficient piping provided to maintain the requisite 

 warmth without heating the water to near the boiling point. "Where ripe figs are not 

 wanted before July, little heat is required, except in cold weather, and to assist the 

 later varieties in ripening. Unheated houses only afford a short supply of fruit, but 

 trees assisted with heat from March furnish luscious figs from July to November 

 inclusive, at no great expense in fuel, if properly selected varieties be grown in pots. 



Temperature and Ventilation. The fig starts into growth outdoors about the begin- 

 ning of May, mean temperature 51, and ripens one crop of fruit in August and 

 September ; to ripen two crops the trees must be started in March, in a temperature of 

 50 at night, 55 sufficing by fire heat on cold days, until the trees are fairly in growth, 

 but it may rise Avith sun heat to 70 or more. "When the lowest leaves attain to nearly 

 their full size the temperature should be gradually raised to 65 in the daytime, 

 artificially, falling 5 or even 10 degrees on cold nights, as a low temperature at night is 

 preferable to a high one. Afford a little ventilation when the temperature reaches 

 65 by sun heat, advancing to 70 or 75 with increased air. 



When the first leaves are full sized observe 75 as the point for commencing 

 top ventilation. The temperature from sun heat should be kept at 80 to 90 through 

 the day, and by closing early in the afternoon it will rise to 90 or 100, or even 

 higher 120 occasionally not injuring figs, and this will ensure ample warmth 

 through the night without having recourse to much, if any, fire heat. When the fruits 

 show signs of ripening, more air must be admitted, and a drier and more bracing 

 atmosphere secured by gentle warmth in the hot- water pipes. The second crop will 

 then ripen and the wood be well matured preparatory to the trees being allowed to go 

 to rest. Unheated houses must not be kept close in the early stages of growth, but 



