FIGS ROUTINE OPERATIONS. 



197 



the fruit. This is admitted by thinning, stopping, and tying down the shoots, and it is 

 equally important that the foliage be clean, otherwise red spider will flourish and ruin 

 the second crop. Brown scale may appear also, and the first attacks should be promptly 

 met with an insecticide applied with a brush. Night temperature 60 to 65, with a chink 

 for air ; ventilate at 70, increase the air at 80, and damp floors and walls to sustain the 

 foliage in health. Border trees started at the new year need syringing twice a day, 

 and the mulching ought to be kept moist. Night temperature 60, 5 less on cold nights ; 

 65 to 70 by day, ventilating at the last figure ; close early in the afternoon at 80. 



Fourth Week in April. Large-fruited varieties, such as White Marseilles and Brown 

 Turkey, now ripening in the early forced house, will require increased ventilation, but 

 less moisture, supplying water to the roots only in a tepid state, keeping the paths and 

 borders regularly damped. Secure a circulation of warm air by the requisite heating of 

 the hot-water pipes, and tie those growths aside that prevent light reaching the fruits, 

 stopping or removing side growths. In the succession house thin and regulate the 

 growths. Also thin the fruits if the crop is too heavy for ripening. Syringe in the 

 morning, and at closing time in the afternoon with sun heat of 85 or 90. Feed the 

 roots either with liquid manure, or water through a good mulching. 



Third Week in May. Continue the treatment last advised to early forced pot trees, 

 but should red spider appear, sponge the affected parts carefully with soapy water, for- 

 cibly syringing with clear water after picking the fruit close. The trees in the succession 

 house started with the year will be swelling their fruits for ripening, and must be fed 

 liberally. Apply moisture to the border, walls, and paths, but not to the fruit, when it 

 commences ripening. A dry atmosphere stunts the growths and rusts the second-crop figs. 



Second Week in June. The second crop on November-started pot trees will be advanced 

 in swelling, the earliest varieties ripening. The growths are often studded with fruits 

 in various stages of swelling. These must be reduced, leaving those nearest the base of 

 the shoots, removing those near the points. Feed liberally, syringe copiously, and the 

 ammonia combined with the water will keep the foliage clean and healthy. Attend to early 

 ventilation in all stages of growth never neglecting this, but allow the temperature to 

 rise with the increased sun heat to 80, securing that heat to 85 through the day, closing 

 in time for the sun to raise the temperature to 90 or more. Tie down the growths before 

 the crop begins to ripen, pinching vigorous growths to concentrate the forces on the fruit. 



First Week in July. The autumn-started trees will soon be cleared of the second- 

 crop figs, and, though they must be kept clean, forcing should cease, otherwise they 



