CHAPTER XXVII. 



THE FIG. 



From time immemorial the fig has been a favorite fruit 

 of warm climates. In this country it is raised in the 

 open air without protection in most sections south of 

 Virginia, but north of that State it requires protection 

 during the winter, which is effected by bending the 

 trees down and covering them securely with dirt, or by 

 placing evergreens around them while standing. The 

 usual height of the fig tree is from ten to fifteen feet, but 

 in its native country it often grows to the height of 

 twenty-five feet. 



The flowers do not open to view, but on examining the- 

 interior of the fruit, it is found to be composed of a large- 

 number of minute flowers. The ripened fruit is very 

 wholesome and much esteemed. The fig is propagated 

 from seed, layers, suckers or cuttings, the latter method 

 being used principally at the South. A favorable situ- 

 ation is near a building with a southern aspect. The- 

 trees bear two crops annually, the first on the wood of 

 the previous year's growth, the second on the new wood,, 

 both of which mature at the South. 



A moderately rich soil of a calcareous nature is the 

 best. 



When the growth of the tree is very luxuriant at the 

 expense of the crop, root prune at any time during; 



