1 88 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



The trees will have a leading shoot and two pairs of hori- 

 zontal growths. If the leading shoot is, however, longer 

 than is sufficient to reach to two wires of the tig-house 

 beyond the highest pair of laterals, cut it back to that 

 extent; and if the lateral growths are not thoroughly 

 ripened, shorten them back to firm wood. Eemove all 

 the buds "with the point of a sharp knife from the leader, 

 except the highest three, one of which will form the 

 leader, and the two next to it the lateral growths to 

 train right and left to the wires, and other two buds to 

 break into groM'th, to furnish the lowest unfurnished 

 wire : thus leaving on the leading stem of last season's 

 growth five buds to furnish a leading, and two pairs of 

 horizontal growths for the two lowest unfurnished wires. 

 By pruning the trees when at rest, they do not bleed so 

 much as they do when cut in spring with the sap in 

 motion. 



TIME AND MANNEE OF PLANTING. 



The best time to plant young trees, the preparation 

 of which has just been detailed, is in spring, when they 

 begin to swell their buds, and are about to start into 

 growth. If kept in a cool place, as recommended, this 

 wiE take place about the end of March or early in April, 

 according to the mildness or coldness of the season. As 

 has already been stated, the counteraction of the fig's 

 natural tendency to a gross unfruitful growth in the 

 younger stages of its progress is always an important 

 point, necessary to the speedy furnishing of a fig-house 

 with fruitful wood. The method of planting must also 

 be directed to this end. Perhaps a less gross growth 

 can be had the first season by just turning the matted 



