THE FIG UNDER GLASS. 



297 



suitable kinds in late nouses and cases are producing 

 large luscious Figs of superior quality. 



The first set of trees in pots should be started not 

 later than the 1st of December ; the first perma- 

 nently planted house on the 1st of January; the 

 general house a month later, and the Fig-case should 

 be allowed to come on with the season. Light and 

 plenty of heat being essentials, the early house 

 should be cleansed and ready for the pot-plants by 

 the time named. The plants, well washed with soap 

 ,and water, and top-dressed with fresh loam and 

 manure, should then be placed on inverted pots, or 

 pedestals of dry bricks, to raise the rims of the pots a 

 little above the kerb of 

 the pit, space being 

 allowed for future 

 growth and the full 

 expansion of the foli- 

 age. If fire-heat is 

 solely depended upon, 

 the pits need not be 

 more than 18 inches 

 deep, but heat from fire 

 and fermenting mate- 

 rial combined being 

 preferable, two feet 

 will not be too much. 

 If Oak-leaves can be 

 obtained, let them be 

 well prepared ; fill up 

 the pits when they are 

 in a state of fermenta- 

 tion, leaving one-third 

 of each pot standing 

 above the surface. In- 

 sert a thermometer to 

 ascertain that a burn- 

 ing bottom heat does not set in, and draw the 

 leaves away from the pots if it exceeds 80°. Give 

 repeated waterings with tepid water at 90° until the 

 balls are properly moistened through, and syringe 

 the trees twice a day, using the water a few degrees 

 warmer than the mean temperature of the house. 



Commence forcing with a temperature of 50° to 

 55° at night, and 5° to 10° more by day, when the 

 weather is mild and favourable to progress ; but at 

 this dead season, when daylight is more than counter- 

 balanced by darkness, a lower range may sometimes 

 be found advisable, as nothing can be gained by un- 

 due haste at the outset. Keep the glass clean and 

 free from accumulations from condensed steam, by 

 giving a little air at the apex every day, and close 

 the lights when the heat begins to decline from the 

 maximum of 65°. When the points of the shoots 

 begin to swell and show signs of growth, raise the 

 temperature to 60 9 at night, with a corresponding 



increase by day, and add fresh fermenting material 

 when the bottom heat falls below 80°. Continue this 

 treatment until the young fruit are the size of Cob- 

 nuts, when excessive watering must be carefully 

 avoided, particularly in dull weather, and let the last 

 syringing be performed not later than one o'clock in 

 the day, as an excess of moisture hanging about the 

 trees after the house is closed may cause the young 

 fruit at this critical stage to turn yellow and drop. 

 When the process of fertilisation is complete and the 

 young growths have made five or six leaves, pinch out 

 the terminal points, and increase the temperature to 

 68° when the weather is mild. If the fruit has set 

 thickly it may now be 

 thinned, as notwith- 

 standing the fact that 

 young Figs are always 

 liable to drop, it does 

 not improve matters to 

 allow the trees to carry 

 more than they can 

 bring to maturity. Pay 

 particular attention to 

 the bottom heat and 

 see that it does not 

 decline. Renew the 

 top dressing and feed 

 the plants liberally 

 with clear diluted 

 liquid at the tempera- 

 ture of the bed, at every 

 watering. Although 

 the Fig is a gross 

 feeder and thrives well 

 on clear liquid made 

 from animal manures, 

 it is a good plan to 

 change its diet by giving a little weak guano or 

 soot-water at every alternate watering. As days 

 increase in length and the sun gains power, let the 

 temperature rise to 80° for a short time after the 

 house is closed, and syringe the foliage freely to 

 keep it free from spider, but always in time for the 

 fruit to get dry before nightfall. 



Ripening the First Crop.— Shortly after the 

 points are pinched out of the young shoots, the fruit 

 which is to form the second crop will begin to ad- 

 vance from the axil of every leaf, and as this will 

 increase the strain upon the plants, the ripening of 

 the first crop must be effected by maintaining a brisk 

 temperature with ventilation by day, as the trees 

 can be allowed comparative rest by night, when a 

 chink of air on the front ventilators will prevent the 

 foliage from becoming soft and flabby. From this 

 time until the fruit begins to take the last swelling 



Fig. 5. — Busli Fig-tree in Pot. 



