192 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



allow the leader to force on its way till it has passed 

 three or more of the wires, then to be stopped and have 

 a notch cut half-way through it at those buds that are 

 best situated for furnishing the wires with what may 

 be termed cordon shoots. This will nearly always 

 cause these buds to swell and grow a little, especially 

 if the leaders of the lower and stronger cordon 

 branches are stopped at the same time. In the case 

 of strong-growing varieties it is astonishing the extent 

 of foundation that can thus be laid for the future tree 

 in one season. The system of allowing great growthy 

 leaders to extend themselves and rob the lower portion 

 of the tree, then to be cut back perhaps to the first or 

 second unfurnished wire in spring, is a great waste of 

 plant force and time too ; besides, it tends to the 

 production of a few strong unfruitful growths, instead 

 of a greater number of more fruitful ones. 



The lateral growths formed the previous year, when 

 the young plants were in pots, should be dealt with in 

 the same way as the main stem, it being necessary that 

 they also should be furnished with lateral shoots, to 

 supply the fruit-bearing wood of the future. 



Throughout the whole season the trees should be 

 subject to a moist atmosphere and liberal syringings, 

 for the fig in a growing state delights in moisture ; 

 and when not sufficiently supplied with it, red-spider 

 is sure to infest it. This is more especially essential 

 as they should not be over-stimulated at the root with 

 either water or manure of any kind before they come 

 freely into bearing. The result at the close of the first 

 season should be as much of the formation in the way 

 of shaping the trees as possible with moderately strong 

 but thoroughly matured growths. At the close of the 



