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CHAPTEE XXII. 

 Fig Culturk in the Neighbourhood of Paris. 



Fig culture, as practised in the neighbourhood of Paris, is very 

 peculiar and interesting, as well as successful, and is well adapted 

 for the southern counties of England. The Fig bearing well as 

 a healthy standard tree at Arundel and elsewhere in Sussex, 

 without any attention, there cannot be a doubt that the Parisian 

 mode is perfectly applicable in sunny spots in England. It 

 might even be carried out on the railway embankments in our 

 southern counties. The system of culture is founded on the habits 

 of the Fig in the climates of Paris and London. In hot countries 

 the Fig is an evergreen tree, growing and bearing almost per- 

 petually. In cold countries the Fig loses its leaves in winter, and 

 becomes, in fact, a deciduous tree. Then the rudimentary Figs 

 borne at the end of each branch, instead of falling off prematurely, 

 as most other fruits would do, seem to rest stationary ; in the 

 spring they recommence their growth, and ripen off into the 

 large, succulent, and well-flavoured Figs supplied to the Paris 

 market in summer. The French call those Figs that require part 

 of two years for their development " figues-fleurs ;" those formed 

 in spring and which ripen during warm autumns are known as 

 " secondes figues," or " figues d'automne." These ripen but rarely 

 in the climate of Paris, and it is to the care of the "figues-fleurs," 

 or Figs formed in the preceding year, that all attention is given. 

 To protect them and the young branches, the trees are trained in 

 long sweeping shoots, pretty near the soil, and in such a form that 

 they may be readily buried in the ground when the winter and 

 its dangers come. The frosts are often of great severity in the 

 neighbourhood of Paris ; so great, indeed, that the Fig would have 



