388 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



nearly as low as already advised for common orchard trees ; others, 

 having in mind the immense thickness attained by the limbs, and 

 their disposition to droop, head as high as four to six feet, which 

 is the better way to proceed when the trees are wide-spaced and 

 expected to attain large size. 



In shaping the tree, branches should be brought out at a 

 distance apart on the stem, so that there may be room for their 

 expansion without crowding each other, and care should be taken 

 not to leave too many main limbs. Three limbs, well placed 

 around the stem, are enough. The branches putting out on the 

 under side of these limbs should be suppressed, and those grow- 

 ing upright, or obliquely upright, retained. As the fig has pithy 

 shoots it is very desirable to cover all cuts with paint or wax. 

 After getting the general shape of the tree fixed, there is little 

 need of pruning except to remove defective branches or those 

 which will cross and interfere with each other and to prevent 

 the interior of the tree from becoming too dense. It is better to 

 remove branches entirely than to shorten them ; or, in shortening, 

 always cut to a strong lateral. Stubs left at pruning are very, 

 undesirable in the fig. 



Cultivation. Young fig orchards are cultivated as are other 

 fruit areas. Old trees which completely shade the ground are 

 usually left to themselves, without cultivation, except cutting out 

 weeds. Irrigation is governed by local conditions, as already 

 stated. In starting the orchard it is exceedingly important that 

 the young trees should not be allowed to suffer from drying out 

 of the soil. 



Bearing Age of the Fig. The fig often, and, perhaps, usu- 

 ally, begins its bearing very early, in the most favorable sitna^ 

 tions in this State. Some fruit is often had the second year, and 

 a crop worth handling the third year. Still, it is wiser not to 

 calculate definitely upon such returns, for four or five years some- 

 times pass without a satisfactory crop. We have, also, instances 

 of "barren fig trees," which persist in "dropping their untimely 

 figs," year after year, during their youth. How much of this 

 is due to variety, and how much to locality, is not definitely known, 

 but successful fruiting has been secured by grafting over barren 

 trees, using scions from bearing trees growing adjacent to them. 

 This has no relation to the subject which will be next discussed. 



