The Fig. 477 



quires more or less protection in winter, for which purpose it is 

 kept as a low bush by means of pruning the branches and roots. 

 As far south as Virginia, the trees are covered with inverted boxes 

 or large barrels, or protected with a mass of evergreen branches ; 

 and when this is insufficient, the boxes or barrels (open above and 

 below) are filled among the branches with dry leaves, or small 

 branches or leaves of evergreen trees. At the north, figs may be 

 raised in sheltered situations, the trees to be laid down on the 

 earth for winter protection, and covered with several inches of dry 

 soil, or a dense mass of forest leaves or evergreen boughs. More 

 commonly, however, they are kept in tubs or boxes. 



The trees may be propagated by seeds, layers, cuttings, and 

 suckers. As the seeds do not uniformly produce the same sorts, 

 they are to be employed only for obtaining new varieties. In the 

 south, spring cuttings of last year's growth are taken off and set in 

 February ; and summer, or green cuttings, in August. If the 

 latter do well they will bear the following year. At the north, the 

 hard-wood cuttings are taken off late in autumn, and kept moist in 

 a cellar till spring, and then set out. The green or summer cut- 

 tings, which should be only a few inches long, root best with bot- 

 tom heat. 



The soil should be supplied with a medium amount of moisture. 

 If too dry, the trees will drop their fruit ; if too moist, the growth 

 will be too rank and succulent, and the trees bear thin crops. 



The fig bears two principal crops, the first in spring, the second 

 towards the end of summer. Novices are puzzled to see the spring 

 figs make their appearance before either leaves or flowers are seen 

 the explanation of which is, that the fruit is only a fleshy recep- 

 tacle, the inside of which contains the numerous minute flowers. 



VARIETIES. 



Among a large number of sorts the following are recommended 

 as desirable : 



Angelica. (Angelique.) Medium, obovate, greenish-yellow ; flesh 

 white, with red at the centre. Great bearer. 



Black Ischia. Medium, dark violet or blue, flesh deep red, very 

 sweet, luscious. Rather hardy and productive. 



Brown Ischia. Medium, round-obovate, light-brown, flesh pur- 

 ple, sweet, very good. Rather hardy ; great bearer. 



