ON FRUIT CULTURE. 



lOOI 



in bounds. No fruit-tree is so impatient of the knife as the Fig ; 

 it shows its resentment of the same by a kind of canker setting 

 in, which sometimes eats nearly through the branches, and often 

 causes the death of young wood. When the growth has been so 

 regulated that each shoot has sufficient space for proper develop- 

 ment, the wood becomes well ripened, and protection in winter 

 is neither requisite nor desirable. Our experience is that it is 

 only those trees which have had their growth too congested that 

 suffer from hard frosts. 



The well-known Brown Turkey (Fig. 652) is a favourite 

 variety, because of its hardy and fruitful character; some lovers 

 of Figs object to its flavour, but most people consider it good. 

 White Marseilles is a splendid variety on warm walls, and is 

 superior in quality to the first-named, and a greater bearer. 

 Brunswick is a very large variety, of fair quality, hardy, and a 

 good bearer in warm positions. The Black, White, and Yellow 

 Ischia are all three of most delicious flavour, also good and 

 constant growers and croppers. The comparatively new variety, 

 St. John's, is proving a good early kind, a free bearer, and 

 hardy. 



Figs may be easily propagated by suckers, layers, or cuttings ; 

 they quickly take root if placed in gentle bottom-heat just before 

 the trees start into new growth. 



Under Glass. — The improvement in Figs grown under glass 

 as compared with those from outside, is so very marked that 

 many are now devoting special attention to their culture, with 

 very gratifying results. Not only is the fruit of delicious flavour, 

 but it may be grown easily in houses given up entirely to the 

 plants, or with other plants in the orchard-house or similar 

 structures, either in pots or planted out. A good fibrous loam, 

 with the addition of mortar rubble or broken oyster shells, and 

 a 6in. pot full of bone-meal to each barrow-load of loam, forms 

 a very good compost indeed. If Figs are planted out, the roots 

 should be confined to within a limited area ; otherwise the 

 growth will be rampant, with very little fruit. The same remark 

 applies to pot-plants ; when repotting, only a small shift should 

 be given. The soil should be made firm both in pots and in 

 borders. For some time after potting or planting, water must 

 be given with caution, and only when really necessary. Later 

 on, when the plants are in active growth, copious supplies are 

 essential, as the Fig revels in abundant heat and moisture while 

 growing. It will, therefore, be apparent, even to the novice, that 

 good, free drainage is very important. In prepared borders, ift. 

 of broken bricks will be none too much, and in pots the 

 drainage also should be liberal. Inverted oyster shells (to 

 the depth of 2in. in large pots) make excellent drainage if 

 covered with moss to keep them from clogging with soil. 

 Opinions differ as to the best time to pot or plant the trees ; 



