200 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



leave the pots where they are regularly fed, and causes 

 gross shoots to be formed at the expense of the fruit 

 and the general growth of the other parts of the trees. 

 This applies more particularly to young growing tree.s. 

 In the case of older and free-bearing trees there is less 

 objection to the practice. 



FOECING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT. 



There is perhaps no other fruit-bearing plant that 

 submits with greater freedom and success than the fig 

 to early forcing, and it certainly yields under favourable 

 treatment a very good return in the shape of two crops 

 of fruit annually. In some cases it has been made to 

 produce a third crop by commencing to force early, and 

 prolonging the process late in the season ; but although 

 this is possible, it is by no means desirable, for, be- 

 sides the debilitating influence on the plants, the third 

 crop is never fine in quality. 



Where a regular succession of ripe figs is required 

 from April to November, I recommend that there be a 

 set of plants in pots, and another planted out, as has 

 been treated of Those in pots should be started about 

 the new year, to ripen their first crop in April and 

 May, and their second in July and August. Those 

 planted out in borders, if started the end of February 

 or beginning of March, ripen their first crop in the end 

 of May and June, and their second will be all gathered 

 before the middle of October, thus keeping up the 

 supply of ripe figs for at least six months of the year. 



In beginning to force those in pots at, say, the begin- 

 ning of January, it is very desirable that they be sup- 

 plied with a gentle bottom-heat. Although this is not 



