210 THE FRUIT-GARDEN. [MARCH. 



In planting figs, you may either procure trained young trees that 

 are arrived to a bearing state, and plant them at fifteen or twenty 

 feet distance ; or, as they are propagated in general, either by the 

 suckers which arise from the roots of the old trees, or by layers, OP 

 cuttings, young plants of these may be planted at once, where they 

 are to remain, that they may establish their roots more effectually 

 without being disturbed by removal : therefore in default of trained 

 trees, some good plants or suckers of moderate growth, and such as 

 are firm and well ripened, may be procured and planted at once 

 where they are to remain ; and others may be planted in the nur- 

 sery, for training a few years. 



To raise them by layers, select young branches 'of one or two 

 years growth, laying them in the earth four or five inches deep, 

 with the tops as erect as possible ; they will be well rooted by next 

 spring, when they should be separated from the old tree, and plant- 

 ed either in the nursery, or where they are to remain. 



To propagate them by cuttings, make choice of the ripest and 

 most perfect, of the last years shoots, from twelve to fifteen inches 

 in length, cutting them off, with an inch or two of the two years old 

 wood at their base ; leaving the tops entire and uncut. Plant these 

 cuttings six or eight inches deep, in good soil, and in rows two feet 

 and a half asunder, and a foot distant from one another in the rows ; 

 here they may remain for two years when they will be in a fine 

 condition for planting where wanted. 



They may also be propagated, by sowing the seed in long narrow 

 boxes, the beginning of this month, placing them in a hot-bed to- 

 forward their growth ; and about the middle of May, remove these 

 boxes into the shade, where they can have the morning sun till 

 ten o'clock, and the afternoon sun from four ; giving them water 

 when necessary, and protecting them the winter following from 

 frost, either, by placing the boxes of plants in the green-house, or 

 in garden-frames. When a year old they may be planted out as 

 directed for cuttings, and treated afterwards in the same way. This 

 will be the. best method to obtain new kinds, the seeds of the imported 

 figs will grow freely, if properly treated ; they are to be covered 

 when sown only about the eighth of an inch deep. 



Layers or cuttings are preferable 10 suckers, as they are not so 

 subject to produce suckers from their roots, after being finally 

 planted, as the others. 



Fig-trees may be trained in half, or whole standards, and plant- 

 ed, detached, in sheltered, sunny situations ; keeping them free 

 from suckers, permitting their heads to branch regularly around, 

 and they will produce ripe fruit in good perfection ; they produce 

 more, and better, in a strong dry loamy soil, than in a sandy parch- 

 ed one, (though in soil they are easy pleased, provided it does not 

 lodge water ;) for when planted in the latter, they are subject to cast 

 their fruit in May and June, which, under such circumstances, in 

 some measure, may be prevented by frequent waterings at that 

 season : where they thrive well, they usually produce two crops in 

 the season ; the first on the former year's wood, and the second on 



