204 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



Medlars are reared from seed for yielding stocks for 

 grafting superior varieties on. Sow the seeds' when ripe 

 in pots of sandy soil in a cold frame. The seeds take two 

 years to vegetate. Grow in the pots till autumn, then 

 plant 2ft. apart, and graft the following year. 



Figs rarely do well reared from seeds. Procure seeds 

 from the finest ripe fruits, wash them free from pulp, 

 store till January, then sow in light soil in heat. When 

 the seedlings are a couple of inches high plant them singly 

 in small pots, and grow on under glass. Seedlings fruit 

 when five to six years old. 



Mulberry seeds should be collected from large ripe 

 fruits, washing them in water to get rid of the pulp. Sow 

 them at once in light soil in pots under glass, keep them 

 there till May, then plant outdoors ift. apart in rows 2ft. 

 asunder. A year or so later plant them where they are 

 required to grow permanently. Seedlings do not begin 

 to fruit until they are fifteen to twenty years old. 



Walnuts sow, with their shells intact, as soon as ripe, 

 3in. deep and 6in. apart in drills i8in. asunder. In the 

 autumn of the second year, lift and replant ift. apart in 

 rows 3ft. asunder. Two years later lift and replant 3ft. 

 apart in rows 6ft. asunder ; and when five years old plant 

 out permanently. They will begin to fruit when about 

 ten years old. 



Filberts and Cobnuts store in sand till March, then sow 

 6in. apart and 2in. deep in rows ift. apart. Two years 

 later transplant the seedlings i5n. apart in rows 3ft. 

 asunder. Plant out permanently when five years old. The 

 seedlings commence to bear when eight to ten years old. 

 Gooseberries and Currants are rarely reared from seed, 

 because a large percentage of the seedlings prove worth- 

 less. However, the seeds should be sown in boxes of 

 light soil in a cold frame, or in the open garden, as soon 

 as ripe. Transplant the seedlings as soon as they can 

 be safely handled 6in. apart in rows ift. asunder. When 

 three years old plant out permanently. Both begin to 

 bear fruit when four years old. 



