NEIGHBOURHOOD OF PARIS. 



399 



Fig. 214. 



should be free from leaves, grass, and straw, which if they 

 were allowed to come in contact with the buried branches 

 would cause them to become rotten. It is also necessary 

 to pull off the half-grown autumn figs, which would rot in 

 the earth, and cause the same mischief as any other de- 

 composing vegetable matter. These precautions having been 

 taken, the branches of the tree are divided into four equal 

 bundles, each being tied together with string. As many 

 trenches as there are bundles of branches are then dug in the 

 ground. Each 

 trench com- 

 mences at the 

 foot of the tree, 

 and is made of 

 sufficient depth 

 to contain the 

 bundles of bran- 

 ches. They are 

 dug in different 

 directions, ac- 

 cording as the 

 ground is in- 

 clined or hori- 

 zontal. In the 

 former case they 

 are dug all in 

 the same up- 

 ward v direction 

 as in Fig. 217 ; 



Showing the Mode of burying the Fig Trees cultivated 

 on level ground, to preserve them from being destroyed 

 by frost in winter. 



when, however, the ground is horizontal, they radiate equally 

 from the centre. The earthing up of the branches being ac- 

 complished accordingtothesedirections,each bundle is covered 

 with mould to the depth of eight inches, a small cone being 

 piled up exactly over the root. 



Towards the end of February of the fourth or fifth 

 year of planting, a damp warm day is chosen for uncovering 

 the buried Fig trees. The sooner this operation is accom- 

 plished the more forward will be the growth of the tree, 

 and the ripening of the fruit ; but the early fruit is often 



