FIG CULTURE . 163 



is more certain if all tiie shoots can be l;ept in equal vigor. Any siioots tliat 

 appear to be advancing unduly or taking the lead should be pinched. This will 

 be a check and will divert some of the sap into other channels. An equal dis- 

 tribution of the sap is beneficial in various ways; there will be a disposition 

 to produce fruit that will be less liable to drop off. With any irregularity of 

 growth the flow of sap also will be irregular, and this is sometimes the first reason 

 of fruit dropping before it is ripe. Equalization of the sap is one of the secrets 

 of successful Fig culture. But with care and close attention to details this 

 may be accomplished without much difficulty. 



The Fig leaf will absorb large quantities of moisture, and a moist, humid 

 atmosphere is therefore good for the tree, except when the fruit is ripening, 

 at which time a fairly dry, bracing atmosphere must be maintained. 



By arranging the Summer's gro\rth, disbudding all surplus shoots, that 

 are not required to furnish the tree, the Winter's pruning will not be a great 

 work. As it is the nature of the Fig tree to produce rank growth, severe Winter 

 pruning would only increase or encourage the trouble. Better success may 

 undoubtedly be had with good headroom and space for the trees to expand. 

 While I advocate as little pruning as possible, still it would be useless to tie 

 in the wood to an extreme degree; the foliage is very massive and requires space 

 for perfect development. 



FEEDING 



When first making a border, very rich compost would be a serious mistake, 

 as I have already said. When the roots are strictly confined to a given space — 

 as they should be for best results — it will be found after a few years that the 

 border is matted with working roots, if everything has progressed favorably. 

 Then a top dressing will be of great assistance in startmg them on their season's 

 work. This dressing may be in the proportion of two of soil to one of manure. 

 Bone meal, wood ashes and Thomson's manure are all good for bringing the 

 crop to its highest state of perfection. Bone is best applied with the top dressing. 

 A light application of Thomson's manure or wood ashes may be made whenever 

 the border requires water. But in using any high grade fertilizer, like Thom- 

 son's manure, it is always best to water the border first; then add the fertilizer, 

 mixed with six or seven parts of soil, and always give a light watering after 

 applying the fertilizer. Directions always go with the bag. Two or three 

 applications of this manure may be given during the season if the trees are 

 making normal growth and are producing liberal crops. I have tested many 

 different grades of fertilizers and have obtained the best results by the use of 

 Thomson's vine and plant manure. Hence the strong recommendation. It 

 is especially good for all kinds of indoor fruit. It has stood the test of many 

 years, always with gratifying results when properly handled. We are living 

 in a progressive age and during recent years the manufacturers of fertilizers 

 have given their best thoughts to the question of turning out high grade, 

 complete manures, knowing full well that the grower is ever on the alert for an 

 article that will help him to bring about best results. High grade manures are 

 naturally more expensive, or seem to be, than low grade ones, but if the 



