FIGS. 171 



a severe winter. In the beginning of April, the cover- 

 ing must be removed, and the branches shortened to 

 a foot, or eighteen inches, according to their strength. 

 During the summer the young shoots must be trained 

 in a horizontal direction at a foot distance from each 

 other. 



Horizontal training appears the most eligible for the 

 fig, as it checks its luxuriance, and by this means adds 

 materially to the ripening of its wood ; for, unless this 

 be accomplished, it will be in vain to look for fruit. 



In some parts of England it is difficult to prevent the 

 fig from being injured by the severe frosts in winter ; in 

 many others it is seldom affected ; but in those situa- 

 tions where danger is to be apprehended, the safest way 

 will be to protect the trees, with some sort of loose, 

 soft, dry covering. For this purpose, fern, or dry 

 straw, or the latter mowings of meadow hay should be 

 tucked in among the branches, and the whole covered 

 over with a single or double mat. This covering must 

 be continued till the beginning of April, selecting a fine 

 day for its removal. The trees should now be pruned 

 and nailed to the wall : such of the branches as may 

 have had their ends killed must be pruned back to the 

 next sound bud : the others must be continued at length, 

 at a distance of twelve or fifteen inches from each other, 

 as from the upper ends of the last year's shoots the 

 young figs are produced : if these are shortened back, 

 the crop will be destroyed. 



In the summer pruning, nothing more is necessary than 

 to cut out all such vigorous growing shoots as are not 

 wanted, particularly those which rise immediately at or 

 near the root : those which are retained should be such 

 only from which there is a prospect of getting fruit the 

 following season. A supply of these should be kept 

 up, in every part of the tree, by which means a crop of 

 fruit will be obtained from the top to the bottom* 



