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Gardening for Amateurs 



in. Towards the autumn small swellings will 

 be noticed in the axils of the leaves. These 



Gooseberry Langley Beauty. 



eventually grow into Figs, but any which are 

 larger than Cob-nuts by October should be 

 carefully removed, for they will be useless. 

 Those left will develop into Figs the following 

 summer, and growth will continue from the 

 ends of the shoots ; thus it will be seen how 

 important it is not to damage the points of 

 the shoots. Young growths springing from 

 the centre of the tree, or near the base of 

 older branches, should be encouraged at 

 every opportunity. 



When the trees are planted in bricked -in 

 borders, watering must be attended to in 

 dry summers, and when large crops are 

 carried, assistance with weak liquid manure 

 will be necessary. 



It sometimes happens that in a cold 

 summer the trees fail to ripen their fruit, and 

 many amateurs are puzzled to know what 

 to do with the unripe fruit in the autumn. 

 Some advise plucking it off. This, we think, 

 is a mistake, as it frequently causes the trees 

 to " bleed." The best thing to do is to leave 

 it alone ; it will wither away in time and does 

 the tree no harm. 



The fruit should not be gathered until it 

 is quite ripe. This condition is indicated by 

 a jelly-like substance oozing out at the end 

 of the fruit. 



The Fig is a gross feeder and requires 

 abundance of water during its season of 

 growth. Liquid yard manure should be 

 applied alternately with clean water. If 

 this form of liquid manure is not to be 

 had a good substitute is found in Canary 

 Guano dissolved in water. 



The best variety to grow outside is the 

 Brown Turkey, having brown skin and 

 reddish flesh. The White Marseilles also 

 does well, and it is one of the most delicious 

 Figs ; it is much paler in colour. 



Gooseberry. The Gooseberry is a very 

 hardy and accommodating tree, and pro- 

 bably for this reason is somewhat neglected 

 by amateur growers, but it will repay for good 

 cultivation. Ordinary loamy soil enriched 

 with decayed yard manure, or, failing this, 

 with basic slag, suits it admirably ; and as the 

 bushes will live and bear good crops for many 

 years the ground ought to be dug at least 

 2 feet deep before planting takes place. The 

 bushes are put about 5 feet apart ; the best 

 time to plant these, as all other hardy fruit 



