CH. 4.] Ftcs. 73 



fhould not b'e entirely removed till the 

 crop is ripened off; becaufe, by keeping 

 them on, the flavour of the fruit may be 

 confiderably enhanced. The flioots may 

 be better ripened, and the fruit, for the fuc- 

 ceeding year's crop, may be better fet and 

 forwarded by retaining the glafles for a 

 while, than.by removing them too foon. 



SECTION VI. 



On Watering and Steaming te Fig-Houfe* 



THE border fhould be kept moderately 

 moift at all times, except when the 

 fruit is ripening off, when it fhould be kept 

 rather in a dry ftate. This is neceflary, be- 

 caufe, otherwife, the fruit would be apt to 

 drop ; nor would it be well flavoured, but 

 infipid. After the fruit are gathered, how- 

 ever, the border fhould again be brought 

 to a proper ftate, by the application of a 

 few hearty waterings. 



Let the foliage be duly refrefhed, twice 

 or thrice a -week, by the hand-engine ; 

 which fhould be applied with fome degree 

 of force, in order to keep the leaves clear 



of 



