THE FIG. l8S 



Water them, to settle the sand firmly about them, and 

 plunge the pots in a bottom-heat of 80° to 85° where 

 the temperature of the air does not exceed 60° at night, 

 and shade them during sunshine. It is desirable that 

 the formation of roots should be as nearly as possible 

 contemporaneous with top-growth. A rather strong 

 bottom with a comparatively low air temperature 

 favours this. Over-watering must be avoided, and if 

 they are placed in a close propagating-house, pine-pit, or 

 dung-frame, very little will be necessary to keep the 

 soil moderately moist until the buds begin to push and 

 leaves are formed, after which their getting once very 

 dry may prove fatal to them. If they do not root as 

 soon as they have formed a leaf or two, they do so very 

 soon after. Until they do form roots keep the foliage 

 moist, and do not expose them to over-much air. By tuAi- 

 ing a plant or two carefully out of their pots it can easily 

 be ascertained when they have formed roots, after which 

 gradually dispense with shading, and air more freely. 



Allow them to grow in the 4-inch pots till they have 

 well filled them with roots. Then shift them into 6- 

 inch pots, draining them well, and using one-year-old 

 turfy loam without any manurial addition. They will 

 now grow rapidly without bottom-heat, should have as 

 much light as possible, and be aired sufficiently to keep 

 them from making weakly long-jointed growths. Figs 

 are very fond of moisture, and may now be well syringed 

 every sunny day at shutting-up time, which should 

 be sufficiently early to cause the heat to run to 80° for a 

 short time, but not subjecting them to a higher night 

 temperature than 60° to 08°, according to the weather. 



The description of cuttings I have recommended have 

 generally a cluster of buds near their points ; and as 



