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foliage. These points are here made out to show that if 

 figs good enough for eating while fresh may be grown 

 without intelligent care and thoughtful suiting of means 

 to the end required, it is far from being the case with figs 

 for drying. 



The fig tree will get up, if permitted, to a very large 

 size. Calif ornian writers tell us of historic fig trees of 11 

 feet in circumference of trunk at the ground level, and 9 

 feet a yard from the ground. Fig groves are described 

 shutting out the sunlight and making a shady twilight 

 as of a cave. We have not these wonders to describe 

 in our newspapers, and it is perhaps just as well we 

 are without them. One occasionally sees examples 20 

 to 30 feet in height, but they are generally solitaires 

 that have grown large through mere letting alone on suit- 

 able situations where they have not been encouraged to 

 bulk thus large of set purpose. If at all numerous, such 

 trees would require to be set out over thirty feet apart, and 

 great waste of space would ensue. As with other orchard 

 culture, it will be found that dwarf trees are most econo- 

 mical both of land and labour, and their produce is far 

 more easily and safely brought to the basket. The follow- 

 ing is advice from a practical grower : " Figs are long- 

 lived and strong growing trees, and should be planted 

 further apart than any other fruit trees, especially the 

 strong growing kinds like the Large Purple and White 

 Adriatic. Others, as the White Ischia, are not such strong 

 growers, and may be planted closer, but even they want 

 plenty of room. I would recommend planting from twenty 

 to thirty feet apart. Then fill in between with vines, 

 peaches, plums or quince something that can be taken out 

 at the end of eight or ten years, or as soon as the fig trees 

 want all the space. The fig and grape do well together, 

 and I should prefer grapes as a filling if the land is adapted 

 to grape-growing." 



The fig is mostly propagated by suckers or by cuttings. 

 The treatment of these is precisely the same as that well 

 known and practised here with vine- cuttings. They, 

 however, are more liable than those of the vine to dry out, 

 and should be indulged with some of the extra care which 

 distinguishes the garden from the vinejard. If fine 



