FIGS. 



Occasionally some of the larger branches will have to 

 be removed, in order to make room for the younger 

 ones, else the supply of young wood will be cut off. 

 These must be cut out in the April pruning, selecting 

 those which appear to be worn out, and the least con- 

 nected with fruit-bearing branches. 



Some of the stronger branches will occasionally pro- 

 duce short side shoots ; when this happens they must be 

 be preserved till the following summer : those which 

 show fruit must be drawn near the wall, the others 

 should be cut out. When the young figs have attained 

 the size of a nutmeg, the end of that shoot should be 

 pinched off, which will assist in swelling the fruit : when 

 the fruit is gathered these shoots may be removed. 



Figs, as open standards, so seldom succeed in this 

 country, that their cultivation in this manner can hardly 

 be recommended ; nevertheless, there are some situa- 

 tions where they succeed, and in favourable seasons pro- 

 duce good crops of fruit. 



Where such situations do offer, and it is intended to 

 make the experiment, those sorts only should be selected 

 which are known to be the most hardy, and the most 

 productive* The Chestnut, Black Genoa, Large Blue, 

 Murrey, and the small Early White, appear to be the best 

 adapted. 



These standards should not exceed six or seven feet 

 in height, and their heads should be kept thin and open 

 to admit sun and air for the purpose of thoroughly 

 ripening the young wood. 



In these trees, all luxuriant shoots must be removed ; 

 should they however become too luxuriant, the ground 

 should be opened round the roots, and the largest of 

 them shortened : this will give a natural and effectual 

 check to such exuberance, and a supply of short-jointed, 

 moderate-sized shoots obtained. From such as these 

 there will be some probability of a crop of fruit ; and on 



