94 Gardening in Egypt. 



the rows. After planting, water ought to be given 

 every day until the young plants are established, and 

 later on once every six or seven days, according to 

 the weather and requirements. 



About the end of February, or early in March, is 

 usually the time for the first fruit to ripen ; though, in 

 mild winters, it is not uncommon, even before Christmas, 

 to see Strawberries, and they continue to give fruit until 

 the end of June. During the fruiting season, the plants 

 should be watered after every picking, as water must 

 never touch the ripe fruit, which should be supported on 

 pieces of tiles to keep them clean, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of Cairo it is necessary to net over the fruit to 

 protect them from the crows. 



In the middle of June, when the runners appear, a 

 light framework should be erected about four feet from 

 the plants, and covered thinly with palm-leaves. This 

 will induce the runners to grow more freely. 



New beds should be made every second year, as the 

 crop the first year is by far the best, and where sufficient 

 runners can be obtained it is advisable to make new 

 beds annually. The most favourable position for 

 planting is under a south wall, as the early blossom is 

 then protected from the heavy rains and north-west 

 winds. 



The Alpine Strawberry Frowley Balady is also 

 largely grown, and can be obtained either from seed or 

 runners. It grows freely in light sandy soil, and 

 produces an abundant crop of small well-flavoured 

 fruit in April and May. A space should be devoted 

 to this variety in every garden. 



Ficus Carica Fig Teen. The Fig is cultivated in 

 large quantities in the neighbourhood of Alexandria and 

 Ramleh, and bears abundant crops from June to 

 September. Those in Upper Egypt ripen a month 

 earlier, about the end of May. 



The trees delight in a rich, sandy soil, and are usually 

 irrigated in the spring when the foliage appears, and again 

 at the rise of the Nile in August. Frequent watering 

 causes the fruit to drop. Their culture is very easy, 



