202 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



it does not matter much whether the bottom-heat is 

 wholly derived from a bed of leaves of considerable 

 depth, say 3 J to 4 feet, or from a lesser quantity 

 of them in conjunction with hot water circulating 

 below them. So long as a bottom-heat of about 75° 

 can be maintained, it does not matter much which 

 system is pursued. 



Supposing that a set of pot-plants are at command 

 in a well-ripened and fruitful state, and that ripe figs 

 are required by the end of April, by the 1st of Janu- 

 ary they should be plunged to the rim in the leaves. 

 If there has been any red-spider on them the previous 

 year, let the shoots be well washed with a soft brush 

 and water, and then painted with a little sulphur, 

 soot, and clay, well mixed together in water. Eemove 

 any loose soil that may be on the surface of the balls, 

 and replace it with loam and horse-droppings in equal 

 proportions. In plunging them, give them sufficient 

 room to allow the leaves and young growths to ex- 

 pand without crowding. Give a good watering of 

 water at 80°. See that the bottom-heat ranges about 

 75°, and that the night temperature is kept steadily 

 at 50°, with an increase of 8° or 10° by day, till they 

 show signs of growth, and the young fruit have begun 

 to swell. Then raise the temperature to 6 0° at night, 

 with a corresponding increase by day. Give air free- 

 ly on all favourable opportunities, and syringe the 

 trees morning and evening with water a few degrees 

 warmer than the atmosphere of the house. After the 

 young fruit get to the size of nuts, over -syringing 

 must be avoided, especially in dull weather, as an 

 excess of water at the root, in conjunction with a too 

 free use of the syringe, has a tendency to cause the 

 fruit, especially in dull weather, to become yellow, 



