FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CHAPTER XXV 



FIG CULTURE IN A SEPARATE HOUSE 



Planting and General Treatment— Preparations for the Second Crop — 

 Feeding— Gathering the Fruit— Pruning and Training- 

 Varieties Best Suited for Forcing 



THE Fig tree Is an interv^sting tree to grow under glass. \\ hilc it may be 

 grown witli fair success in the orchardhouse among otlier liuit, it will 

 thrive much better in a house by itself, or, properly speaking, in a fighouse. 

 The origin of the Fig, like that of many other plants, is obscure, but we do know 

 that it was cultivated in very ancient times. It is probably one of the very 

 oldest cultivated fruit trees that we have. Ancient though it be, the luscious 

 fruit is still a favorite with many, both fresh and dried. 



There is something majestic about the Fig tree, which is entirely difTerent 

 from any other fruit tree. The interesting make-up of both wood and foliage 

 is apparent at once; also its difTerent mode of fruit-bearing. Both the wood and 

 foliage are highly ornamental in themselves; but they are as nothing compared 

 with the luscious, ripe fruit that follows, not in one crop but in two, with at times 

 even a third crop in the same season. There is no other tree that can compare 

 with it in fruitfulness. 



California realized the possibilities of the Fig tree many years ago, and with 

 an ideal climate for its successful culture, there are now thousands of acres under 

 cultivation there, the yield from which must be enormous. 



One thing to be said in favor of Fig culture under glass is, that the tree is 

 comparatively free from fungous diseases and from insects, with the excep- 

 tion of mealy bug, which will thrive wonderfully if once allowed a foothold; 

 for the fighouse should be maintained in a fairly moist, humid atmosphere 

 while developing its crop, and this favors the rapid spread of the bug. 



The Fig is easy to propagate. There are different methods of producing 

 young stock, namely, by seed, cuttings, layers and suckers. Seed, however, 

 is not ofcen resorted to, unless it be with a view to improving or increasing 

 certain kinds that are found to succeed best. The best way to raise seedling 

 Figs is to select the finest fruits, allow them to get thoroughly ripe, and then 

 separate the pulp from the seed. When dried out it may be sown at once, or 

 held until about January and sown in litat, growing the seedlings along without 

 a check. 



