326 Grafting the Fig. 
Grafting the Fig —The fig can be grafted by the cleft-graft 
method, as described in Chapter IX, but the cleft should be 
made to one side of the stub and not through the central pith. 
Especial care must be taken, in excluding the air. Fill the cleft 
between the scions with warm wax, which will run in and fill 
the cavity. Then bind the stock with wax bands, taking the 
greatest care to cover the exposed wood surface, the cut end of 
the bark (which in the fig is very prone to shrink and draw 
back), and as far down the stock as the bark has been split. 
Another method is to make slightly outward and down- 
ward cuts into the stub with a sharp chisel, so as not to cause 
a split, but rather deep, clean cuts, into which the wedge-shaped 
scions are firmly pushed and a cord wound around the stub to 
hold all strongly in place before waxing thoroughly. 
The form of side-grait as described in the chapter on the 
peach is also available. A form of bud-graft, that is, budding 
with a large shield into old bark, is also successful. Judge 
Rhodes, of San Jose, describes his method, both with the olive 
and the fig, in this way:— 
Cut the shield from a limb of about ¥% inch in diameter, length of shield 
about 1% inches, its thickness from ¥% to ¥ inch, and its bud near the m d- 
dle of the shield. Do not remove the wood from behind the bud. Makea 
cut in the stock, through the bark and into the wood, its length and width 
a little greater than those of the shield. Insert the shield into the cut, so 
that the inner bark of the top of the shield and cut will coincide, so that 
one side of shield and cut—and both sides, if practicable—will coincide. 
Place the flap of the cut over the shield (removing a part of the flap so the 
bud will not be covered), and fasten flap, shield and stock together very 
firmly with twine, and protect them with paper tied around them. They 
may be grafted in that mode, whenever dormant buds are found, for the 
shields. Twenty-four shields were inserted at several times, during one 
spring, and there was only one failure. 
Seedling Figs—Figs are readily grown from the imported 
fig of commerce. Dr. Gustav Eisen, of San Francisco, our lead- 
ing writer on the fig, gives the following explicit directions for 
growing the fig from seed:— 
Cut open imported Smyrna figs; wash out the seeds in warm water, 
those that float are empty and worthless; those that sink are generally 
fertile. Sow these in shallow boxes of sand and loam mixed, and place in 
a frame under glass. In three weeks they will be up and must be very 
sparingly watered. Set out next season in nursery row. In three years 
from the seed such plants will be found to bear. Do not throw away plants 
pout six to eight years old, as some may develop, or show their qualities 
ate. 
The tendency of the plants grown from Smyrna figs is to 
revert to the wild type, and there is a small chance of securing 
good varieties. 
