Gardening for Amateurs 



1023 



the following compost is the best : To one 

 barrow- load of turfy soil add 1 peck each of 

 broken bricks, old lime plaster or rubble 

 broken small, 1 quart of bone-meal, and 

 ] quart of lime, mixing the ingredients 

 well. In planting tread the soil firmly over 

 the roots. The border ought not to be 

 large, and good drainage is essential. Allow 

 a depth of 2 feet (in addition to the drain- 

 age), a width of 4 feet, and a length of 

 7 feet. When the roots are confined in 

 this way, it becomes necessary to water the 

 trees freely in hot weather, and when they are 

 bearing heavy crops manure water ought to 

 be given occasionally. 



While out of doors the Fig gives us only 

 one crop of fruit, under glass it yields always 

 two and sometimes three crops. 



Propagation is effected by layering or by 

 cuttings. The latter is the simpler and the 

 more expeditious way. In September cut 

 off well-ripened shoots of the current year's 

 growth with a small piece of the older wood 

 attached, and place them round the edge of 

 a 5-inch pot filled with sandy soil, pressing 

 the soil firmly. Cuttings may be rooted in 

 early summer in a closed case in a hothouse, 

 or the same purpose can be effected by 

 placing the cuttings in a frame on a hotbed 

 in September. They will make nice little 

 plants the following year after they have 

 had a season's growth. 



Summer Treatment. The early (first) crop 

 is produced on the shoots of the previous 

 year's growth, and the second crop on 

 the shoots of the current year. The latter 

 when five leaves have formed should be 

 " stopped " by pinching out the point. 

 This helps the young fruit to swell, and it 

 also assists other young shoots to form, 

 which in turn will bear fruit also, though it 

 may fail to ripen. 



The Fig enjoys heat and moisture during 

 the summer and is content with less air than 

 most other fruit trees ; still, a little must be 

 given, say from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m., on warm, 

 sunny days. When the fruit is ripening 

 more air is needed and rather more warmth 

 in the hot-water pipes. These means have 

 the effect of improving the quality and flavour 

 of the fruit. Abundance of water to the 

 roots must be given in dry, hot weather, 

 together with liquid manure occasionally. 



The trees must be copiously syringed in the 

 early morning and at 3 p.m. when the house 

 is closed. 



In addition to the two indispensable 

 varieties Brown Turkey and White Mar- 

 seilles, Pingo de Mel (St. John's) should be 

 added, as it fruits earlier than the other two. 



Pruning. The Fig needs little pruning, 

 and should be done in summer before the 

 young shoots are fully grown. It consists 

 in cutting out any small or weak growths 

 that cause overcrowding, that the essential 

 shoots may be exposed to light and air. In 

 winter the growths of summer are tied to 

 the trellis, and it may be necessary again to 

 remove any weakly or unhealthy shoots for 

 which there is no room. 



Melon. As grown under glass in this 

 country, the Melon is one of the most valued 

 of our summer fruits. The juiciness and rich 

 flavour of its deep flesh, which may be 

 green, scarlet or white, is greatly appre- 

 ciated. 



Making the Hotbed. During summer the 

 Melon may be grown either in a frame 

 or a heated glasshouse. In either case the 

 method of cultivation is much the same. 

 The chief difference is that by the posses- 

 sion of a heated greenhouse an earlier crop 

 may be obtained than when a frame only 

 is available. A hotbed consisting of stable 

 litter two -thirds and leaves one -third is 

 made up so that, after being well trodden 

 down, it is at least 3 feet deep. If in a 

 glasshouse its surface ought to be within 

 about 2 feet of the roof. A small mound 

 of loamy soil is placed under the middle of 

 each light, in which to plant the seedlings. 

 As soon as the hotbed is made up the seeds 

 should be sown ; place two seeds \ inch 

 deep, pointed end downwards, in a small 

 flower-pot, and plunge the pots to the rim 

 in the hotbed. By the time the seedlings 

 are large enough for planting the hotbed 

 will have cooled somewhat and be ready 

 to receive them. A little air ought to be 

 " left on " the house or frame for several 

 days after the bed is made, to allow of the 

 escape of steam from the manure. When 

 it is seen which of the two seedlings is the 

 stronger, cut off the weaker one. Plant- 

 ing should be carried out when the seed- 

 lings are well rooted. March is a good 



