56 



THE FRUIT GARDEN 



fruit and branches, at the same time securing the perfect ripening of the wood 

 for future crops. Covering the roof with bearing wood also answers excellently, 

 but I do not think the quality of the fruit is so good as when rafter training 

 is adopted. The fig bears more than one crop in the course of the year, some- 

 times even three. The first crop is produced on the shoots of the past year's 

 growth, and it is the crop which requires by far the most skill to produce. Its 

 success or failure depends almost entirely upon the condition of the preceding 

 year's growth. Should this be soft, green, and immature, the prospect of a first 

 crop worth having is nil. The second crop, which is produced on the shoots 



of the current year's growth is, gene- 

 rally speaking, a full crop, and easily 

 produced. The third crop is produced 

 on the lateral growths of the shoots 

 which produced the second crop, and 

 should never be taken unless under very 

 exceptional circumstances, as the fruit is 

 small and seldom appreciated. There- 

 fore I would advise that this crop be 

 sacrificed by plucking the fruit as soon 

 as it is perceived, thereby husbanding 

 the strength of the tree for next year. 

 There are two ways of managing the 

 summer growth of the fig, one is by 

 stopping the shoots at the sixth or 

 seventh leaf, and the other by allowing 

 the shoot to grow to its full length. 

 I have practised them both for many 

 years, and one system answers as well 

 as the other. 



Thinning the Fruit. — The fig 

 sets its fruit, as a rule, most freely. I 

 can safely say that to find a really grand 

 dish of figs at an exhibition is the ex- 

 ception, and I believe that the chief 

 reason for this is overcropping. The fig stands forcing as well or better than 

 any of our fruit trees. It can be exposed to greater heat, both artificial and 

 natural, than any other hard-wooded fruit, excepting perhaps the vine, and there 

 is no crop which can be produced and matured in the winter months in so little 

 time, for by starting a house towards the end of November ripe figs can be had 

 at the end of March or the first week in April. 



Ventilation, especially in early spring, must have the cultivator's thought- 

 ful care. In the case of the first crop — expected to be ripe at the end of 

 March — no front air should be given, except the weather should be exception- 

 ally hot towards the end of the month, as it sometimes is, when a little may 

 be admitted in the middle of the day for a short time. The temperature of 

 the house at this time of the year can easily be regulated by the top ventilators 



Branch of Fig Tree 



(g) Last year's wood; [h) first crop of figs ripe 

 {August to September outdoors) ; (/) second 

 crop of figs, generally worthless outdoors, and 

 should be removed, but ripening in a forcing 

 house ; (k) embryonic figs, first and only crop 

 generally outdoors the following year. 



