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Gardening for Amateurs 



Fig. 3. How cuttings of Currants are 

 put in. 



Pig. 4. Black Currant cutting rooted 

 and forming shoots. 



the day, and replaced at night when frost 

 threatens. 



Planting. The Fig thrives in any well- 

 drained, good garden soil, especially that 

 resting on a chalk or lime subsoil. It is 

 advisable to use a barrow-load of turfy soil to 

 each tree at the time of planting, first mixing 

 with it a peck of lime and a quart of bone- 

 meal. In planting be careful to spread out 

 the roots regularly and make the soil firm 

 beneath and above them. Plant in early 

 autumn Avhen the soil is moderately dry, and 

 do not bury the top roots more than five 

 inches below the surface. Rich soil causes 

 rank, soft growth which never matures. 

 The best method of constructing a border 

 is by taking out the soil and building a 

 brick wall 2 feet 6 inches deep underneath 

 the surface of the ground, the front being 

 from 3 to 4 feet from the back wall, and the 

 floor made of concrete. Thus a kind of 

 shallow pit is formed which effectually 

 prevents the roots from wandering a very 

 important point, for when the roots stray 

 strong growth is made, with the same result 

 as when the soil is too rich. Drainage with 

 a proper outlet will be necessary, therefore 



the concrete base should be gently sloped in 

 one direction. Six inches of clinkers must 

 be placed over the whole bottom, and over 

 these turves, grass side downward. 



Such a border, of course, has the advantage 

 of being permanent, but for various reasons 

 is not always practicable, and good results 

 are often obtained from less pretentious 

 preparations. It is essential to make the 

 " floor " and " walls " as hard as possible to 

 confine the roots, and old clinkers, brick- 

 bats, stones or similar material will serve this 

 purpose. These should be rammed down 

 tightly, but even then the roots will penetrate 

 through, and it will be advisable to examine 

 the sides at least every few years, and cut 

 back with a sharp knife roots that are outside. 

 In the case of old trees not planted in proper 

 borders, which are making too vigorous 

 growth, root pruning may be undertaken in 

 the same way as for other fruit trees, usually 

 with good results, especially if the roots can 

 be built round in the way described above 

 and some new soil added. 



Pruning. The Fig tree when grown out 

 of doors really requires little or no pruning. 

 The grower must bear in mind that the fruit 



