298 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING-. 



for ripening, endeavour to accommodate the two 

 crops by giving as much, water as will prevent the 

 young Figs from suffering, while it is not so abun- 

 dant as to affect the flavour of the earliest fruit when 

 it begins to ripen, as it is difficult to imagine any- 

 thing more disagreeable than a vapid, flavourless 

 Fig. But when the earliest Figs almost impercep- 

 tibly cease swelling and all at once put on ripening, 

 give more air and plenty of heat, turn the foliage 

 aside so as to expose it fully to the sun, and discon- 

 tinue syringing. 



Gathering the Fruit. — When the Figs begin 

 to crack, and moisture exudes from the eye, and the 

 neck of the fruit becomes soft and flaccid, they are 

 ripe enough to gather for ordinary purposes, par- 

 ticularly if they have to be packed and sent away ; 

 but for home consumption by the connoisseur, they 

 should be allowed to hang until their colour (be it 

 light or dark) is perfect, and there is danger of their 

 falling from the trees. Unlike all other fruits that 

 come under the grower's management, this is per- 

 haps the only one that is really improved by 

 hanging until it is more than ripe. When the 

 fruit is very fine and heavy, it may be supported 

 with broad bands of raffia passed under the eye 

 and over the branch. When gathering take flat 

 baskets padded with soft moss or paper shavings, 

 cover with silver paper, and detach each fruit in a 

 soft Vine-leaf placed in the hollow of the left hand. 

 By this means they can be moved without being 

 touched by the fingers, and if it is necessary to keep 

 them, place each fruit on a hair sieve in a dry airy 

 room where it will not mould. In order to prevent 

 the second crop from suffering from drought, give 

 the trees after each gathering as much tepid water 

 as will keep the young growths fresh and crisp, and 

 syringe carefully but well, wherever water can be 

 applied without drenching the advancing fruit. By 

 taking advantage of favourable opportunities the 

 requirements of the two crops may be met without 

 injury r t to either, and that troublesome enemy, red 

 spider, can be kept in check. 



Management of the Second Crop.— When 

 all the ripe Figs are gathered, let the trees have 

 copious syringings with sulphur- water, if necessary, 

 to clear them of insects. Renovate the top dressing 

 on the pots, and turn them round to prevent strong 

 roots from rambling into the plunging material. 

 The latter should also be renovated to keep up the 

 proper degree of heat, which should not fall much 

 below 80° ; and feed liberally with soot- water, guano- 

 water, and diluted liquid alternately. Let the 

 air temperature range from 70° at night to 80° by 

 day, with air, and 85° to 90° after closing, with sun- 



heat. If the second crop is a heavy one, as will be 

 the case on such kinds as Brown Turkey, White 

 Marseilles, and Osborne's Prolific, thin with a liberal 

 hand, otherwise the fruit will be small although 

 excellent in quality. Discontinue pinching, unless 

 it be a shoot that is becoming gross, as every point 

 should have a good terminal bud with several short - 

 petioled leaves clustering behind, and the embryo 

 Figs already forming at the base. These are the 

 fruit that will be the first to ripen in the early spring, 

 at least where two crops in one year are sufficient to 

 satisfy the grower. If covetous, he may force them 

 on to ripen in the autumn ; but they will be small 

 and of little value, and the trees will be rendered 

 useless for very early forcing two years in succession. 



Autumn Management.— As soon as the second 

 crop is gathered, again ply the syringe most vigo- 

 rously, and use insecticides if necessary to clear the 

 foliage of insects. Give an abundance of air to 

 ripen up the wood, and turn the j)lants round to 

 check roots that have found their way into the now 

 decaying plunging material. Give enough water to 

 keep the foliage fresh until it begins to change 

 colour for ripening, then keep the house or pit dry 

 and cool through the night, and on fine evenings 

 throw the roof lights off altogether. Early in Sept- 

 ember prepare the requisite number of clean pots, 

 large enough to give a three-inch shift, also a 

 batch of compost consisting of sound turf, lime 

 rubble, and bones. Remove the plants to the pot- 

 ting-bench, divest them of crocks and top dressing, 

 cut back all gross roots, and re-pot, using the soil 

 in a dry state. In order to prevent the water from 

 passing away without penetrating the old balls, let 

 the latter be thoroughly watered before they are 

 turned out of the pots, and ram the new with a pot- 

 ting-stick until it is as solid as the old ball itself. 

 Select an open but sheltered situation out of doors 

 facing the sun, for their autumnal quarters ; plunge 

 the pots up to their rims ; give one good soaking 

 with pure water, and then leave them until there is 

 danger to be apprehended from autumn frosts. In 

 the meantime empty and cleanse the pits, and turn 

 them to account until they are again wanted for 

 then- legitimate use. 



The Succession House.— When treating of 

 the early permanently-planted Fig-house, it was 

 suggested that the trees should not have too much 

 compost given to them the first year. Such being 

 the case, it is probable that the roots now, say the 

 end of October, have ramified through the first 

 moiety, including the turf wall. Cleanse the trees 

 and the house, tie the main shoots in a horizontal 

 position, and prune back to a single eye every 



