COMMON FIG-TREE. 49 



fruit, and brownish pulp, ripe by the end of August. The long 

 brown Naples fig; a long dark-brown fruit, having a reddish pulp, 

 ripe in September. The great blue tig ; a large blue fruit, having 

 a fine red pulp. The black Genoa fig : a large pear-shaped, black- 

 coloured fruit, with a bright red pulp, ripe in August. 



The last species is that most frequently cultivated in this coun- 

 try, and the only one which does not require to be kept in a 

 stove. It may be propagated either by suckers arising from the 

 roots, by layers, or by cuttings. The suckers are to be taken 

 off as low down as possible; trim off any ragged part at bottom, 

 leaving the tops entire, especially if for standards, and plant them 

 iu nursery lines, at two or three feet distance from each other, or 

 they may at once be planted where they are to remain, observing, 

 that if they are designed for walls or espaliers, they may be headed 

 to six or eight inches in March, the more effectually to force out 

 lateral shoots near the bottom : but if intended for standards, they 

 must not be topped, but trained with astern, not less than 15 or 18 

 inches for dwarf standards, a yard for half standards, and four, five, 

 or six, feet for full standards. They must then be suffered to 

 branch out to form a head ; observing, that whether against walls, 

 espaliers, or standards, the branches or shoots must never be short- 

 ened, unless to procure a necessary supply of wood : for the fruit is 

 always produced on the upper parts of the young shoots ; and if these 

 are cut off, no fruit can be expected. The best season for propa- 

 gating these trees by layers is in autumn ; but it may be also done 

 any time from October to March, or April. Choose the young pli- 

 able lower shoots from the fruitful branches ; lay them in the usual 

 way, covering the bodies of the layers three or four inches deep in 

 the ground, keeping the top entire, and as upright as possible, and 

 they will be rooted, and fit to separate from the parent in autumn : 

 when they may be planted either in the nursery, or where they are 

 to remain, managing them as above directed. The time for pro 

 > pagating by cuttings is either in autumn at the fall of the leaf, or any 

 time in March. Choose well-ripened shoots of the preceding sum- 

 mer, short, and of robust growth, from about 12 to 15 inches long, 

 having an inch or two of the two-years wood at their base, the tops 

 left entire, and plant them six or eight inches deep, in a bed or bor- 

 der of good earth, in rows two feet asunder: and when planted i 

 vol. v. e 



