THE NURSERY-LIST 313 



they can suck up the water. Overhead watering may be used, 

 and often is, but it must be done with great care. Be certain that 

 the spores are fully ripe when gathered. The young plants should 

 be pricked out when the true leaf appears, and they are large enough 

 to handle. The same careful treatment should be continued until 

 they are established in pots. There is little difficulty in getting 

 the young plants, if fresh spores are obtainable, but there is con- 

 siderable trouble in handling the plantlets, and establishing them 

 in their growing quarters. 



Ferula (Giant Fennel). Umbelliferce. 



Raised from seed sown in spring where plants are to grow. 



Ficus. Moracece. 



The greenhouse species are propagated by layers and cuttings. 

 The cuttings are handled in a close frame, and a leaf or two is 

 usually left on them. For Ficus Carica, see Fig. Propagation 

 by seeds is sometimes employed in the edible figs, but is not easy 

 with the ornamental sorts. F. elastica, F. indica, and the like 

 are increased by cuttings (commonly single-eye), leaving one 

 entire leaf and potted singly in 2-inch pots which are plunged; 

 or the cuttings are directly planted in sand or sandy soil or sphag- 

 num, and placed in good bottom heat, in a frame under glass. 

 The large cuttings should be staked, and care should be taken to 

 let the milky juice drain out before planting. Cuttings are usu- 

 ally set in winter, before growth begins. Last season's wood 

 should be used. A common method of multiplying F. elastica 

 (rubber-plant) is by means of Chinese or air layers or " mossing " 

 (see page 76). If the house can be kept moist, simply a ball of 

 sphagnum bound on the stem is sufficient, without the use of a 

 split pot or a paper cone (as shown in Figs. 68 and 69). Plants 

 of considerable size, fit for nursery trade, can be obtained more 

 quickly by this Chinese layering (if one has good stock plants) 

 than by cuttings. 



Fig (Ficus Carica). Moracece. 



Figs grow readily from the plump seeds in the commercial fruit. 

 Wash out the seeds, and those that sink may be sown in a frame. 

 The young plants will appear in three or four weeks. In three to 

 five years the plants will begin to bear. New varieties are obtained 

 in this way. 



Varieties of the fig are multiplied with ease by layers, suckers and 



