204 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



afternoon with a temperature of 80° to 85° according 

 to the weather, with a corresponding degree of atmos- 

 pheric moisture. The fig is very fond of heat especially- 

 derived from the sun, and also of a moist atmosphere. . 



When the second crop begins to ripen, air liberally, 

 and give just sufficient water to keep the system active 

 and healthy, but no more. As soon as the fruit are all 

 gathered, should there be any signs of red-spider, syringe 

 the foliage vigorously with water in which a little 

 sulphur is mixed. Look over the trees, and remove 

 entirely any growths that seem at all to crowd the bushes; 

 and when the wood is ripened, remove the plants to the 

 open air, plunging them in a place where they can have full 

 sun, and keep them well watered until the leaves drop. 



The routine of forcing trees planted out in borders 

 does not differ in any essential point from the foregoing 

 directions. They of course require less frequent water- 

 ing at the root than plants in pots. Still, after the 

 trees have thoroughly filled the border with roots and 

 have covered the roof of the house with fruit-bearing 

 wood, they require copious supplies of water and liberal 

 annual top-dressing with rotten manure. When bear- 

 ing heavy crops, ordinary manure, or guano-water, should 

 be liberally supplied to them. Except when the fruit 

 are ripening, it is not easy to over-water a limited 

 border filled with one mass of fig-roots. In the first 

 few years of their growth and forcing, it is, as has 

 already been stated, undesirable to over -feed them. 

 Old fig-trees that are properly managed sometimes 

 show more fruit than it is desirable to have, and 

 it is advisable to thin them slightly ; for, as in the case 

 of most other fruits, a lesser quantity of fine figs is 

 more satisfactory than a greater number of inferior ones. 



