F I C 



F I C 



never be shortened, nor should the fine short 

 side and fore right shoots be cut off", except 

 when decayed ; as they ripen better than the 

 long strong ones, and are not so apt to be de- 

 stroyed by irosis in the winter season. By this 

 practice, it is contended that the trees will be 

 covered with fruit from the tops to the bottoms 

 of the wall, 8cc. instead of having a few only at 

 the top, as is the case in the common method of 

 management. 



In summer, as many shoots arc sent off, some 

 of those that are irregular and useless may be 

 rubbed off, and the others trained in for the form- 

 ing of future bearing wood. The proper period for 

 this is about the beginning of June and in the 

 two following months. 



After the fruit has attained the size of small 

 nutmegs the points of the top buds arc recom- 

 mended by Mr. Forsyth to be pinched or cut off 

 with a sharpkmfe, some of his powdery material 

 being immediately applied, to prevent the oozing 

 out of the milky juice, and the consequent ex- 

 haustion and injury of the trees. 



In order to prevent the necessity of cutting the 

 trees down in the above manner, they should be 

 covered in winter before the approach of frost, 

 which would destroy the ends of the shoots be- 

 fore the wood was ripened and rendered hard. 



Where Fig-trees are greatly injured in the win- 

 ter, the best practice is to cut them down as near 

 the ground as possible, as in the following year, 

 by the above management, they may be got into 

 a good bearing state. 



"The best mode of protecting these trees is, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Forsyth, to " cover them with 

 bentings, or short grass, from the pleasure-ground, 

 which he rinds answers the purpose very well: 

 after it is thoroughly dry, it may be put in a cock, 

 covering it with straw, to prevent the rain from 

 penetrating into it, which would cause it to heat 

 and rot ;" or it may be put into a shed. If grass 

 cannot be procured, some dry moss may be em- 

 ployed. In performing the work, " first cover 

 the trees with laurel, yew, fir, or spruce boughs, 

 and then tuck in the short grass or moss among 

 the branches, beginning at the top of the tree, 

 tucking in the grass, 8tc. as you descend, till 

 you come to the bottom." Fein, when well 

 dried, he says, makes an excellent covering. 

 The trees may be thatched on the outside with 

 the long leaves of the common fern ; and where 

 these can be got, there will be no occasion for 

 short grass. When it can be procured, which 

 it may in most country places, it will, he says, 

 be found preferable to laurel. 



They " may also be sheltered in winter by 

 wrapping hay or straw bands round the branches 

 ©f'the trees ; and then opening the ground, laying 



in the branches, and covering them over with 

 mould about nine inches deep, leaving the ends 

 of the shoots about three inches out of the 

 ground, and covering the ground over with 

 some rotten leaves, or old tan, See. to keep 

 out the frost." The roots of the trees may like- 

 wise be covered in the same manner. Where 

 the walls are low, and the borders broad, all the 

 branches may be brought front ways ; but when 

 they are high, only the side branches can be 

 brought forward in the above manner. It is 

 the practice of some to cover with reeds and 

 straw ; the latter he does not by any means ap- 

 prove of, " as it is very apt to harbour rats and 

 mice, on account of some of the grain being 

 left in it." 



In putting on the grass, care should be taken 

 that no mice, Sec. have got amongst it ; and 

 during the winter, it should be seen that no i;uts 

 or mice get among the branches of the trees 

 that are covered against the walls ; as if they do, 

 they will infallibly bark the branches, and in that 

 case there will be a necessity of heading the trees 

 down. 



These may be destroyed by setting traps near 

 the roots of the trees, as soon as they are covered. 

 See Traps. 



Great care, he says, should be taken, " not 

 to uncover the Fig-trees too soon in the spring; 

 and it should be done partially, as there are fre- 

 quently frosts and cutting winds in the months 

 of April and May, which will infallibly kill the 

 young fruit as they make their appearance in the 

 spring. 



" Those branches which have been laid into 

 the ground should be taken up in the month of 

 April, having the hay or straw bands taken off, 

 and then nailed to thewall. Some fern-leaves, or 

 any other light covering, may be stuck in among 

 the branches, to protect them from the drying 

 winds and frosts, tiil the fruit enmes to the size 

 of a large walnut, or rather till the leaves are 

 sufficiently large to protect the fruit." 



It is observed, that " the Italians, when they 

 wish to forward the ripening of Figs, drop in 

 a little sweet oil, from a quill, into the eye of 

 the fruit j but care must be .taken not to hurt 

 the skin, which will make the Fig burst. This 

 will make a difference at least of "a fortnight in 

 the ripening." 



It is also recommended, " as soon as the 

 leaves begin to fall, to biush them off with a 

 broom, but by no means till thev will come off 

 easily. If they are forced off before they begin 

 to wither and decay, the trees will bleed at the 

 foot-stalks. At the same time the ?ta!ks should 

 becleared of all the small lalefiuit, which, if suf- 

 fered to remain during the winter, will rot, and 



