Chap. XXII.] 



FIG CULTUEE NEAR PAEIS. 



373 



the tree are divided into four equal bundles, each being tied to- 

 gether with string. As many trenches as there are bundles of 

 branches are then dug in the ground. Each trench commences 

 at the foot of the tree, and is made of sufficient depth to contain 



the bundles of 



branches. They are 

 dug in different 

 directions, accord- 

 ing as the ground 

 is inclined or hori- 

 zontal. In the former 

 case they are dug all 

 in the same upward 

 direction; when, 

 however, the ground 

 is level, they ra- 

 diate equally from 

 the centre. The 

 earthing up of the 

 branches being ac- " ~— ^ssap 



OOmplished accord- showing the Mode of burying ine Fig-trees culiivatea on level 

 ^ groii7td, to preserve them from beitigdesiroyedby frost in Winter. 



ing to these direc- 

 tions, each bundle is covered with mould to the depth of eight 

 inches, a small cone being piled up exactly over the root. 



Towards the end of February a damp, warm day is chosen for 



uncovering the buried 

 Fig-trees. The sooner 

 this operation is ac- 

 complished the more 

 forward will be the 

 growth of the tree, and 

 the ripening of the 

 fruit ; but the early 

 fruit is often destroyed 

 by the late frosts. For 

 this reason some 



Fig-tree pUnted on sloping ectrth buried for the Winter months. gj.Q^gj.g prefer tO 



defer this operation until the end of March, although the trees 

 frequently suffer from being thus suddenly exposed to the heat of 

 ^ 2 c 



