MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, he, 87 



Figs proper for a small Garden. 



The Large White Genoa ; Early White; Murrey Fig; 

 Small Brown Ischia, and the Black Ischia. 



In a good season, the Brown or Chesnut-coloured Ischia, 

 the Black Genoa the Small A\Tiite Early, the Murrey or Brown 

 Naples, and the Common Blue, or Purple Fig, will ripen on 

 standards. 



Figs are raised from suckers, layers, or cuttings, and will 

 thrive in almost any soil, but do not like a wet bottom ; they 

 generally produce more fruit on a strong loamy soil than on a 

 dry one. Layers, or cuttings, are preferable to suckers, 



Observationsy £ffc. on Pruning Figs. 



They should never be pruned in autumn or during the 

 winter : the best time is at the latter end of April or beginning 

 of May ; by that time you will see what shoots have been kil- 

 led by the frost in winter. The end of those branches more 

 particularly will be hurt where the wood has not ripened well 

 in autumn : They should be cut into the sound wood, and as 

 near to an eve as possible. When the branches have been suf- 

 fered to run up leaving the bottom quite naked, you should 

 cut out every other branch as near to the ground as you can, 

 which will furnish the wall with fine young wood ; observing 

 to stop the ends of the shoots in the beginning of June ; this 

 will cause them to throw out side shoots which will bear fruit 

 the next summer. By that time you will have plenty of fine 

 wood; you may then cut down the rest of the old branches 

 that were left the preceding year, observing to prune them about 

 the same time as you pruned last year : Always remember to 

 pinch off the ends of the strongest shoots, except the leading 

 ones, at the top bud. 



When you prune in the spring, never shorten the shoots, 

 as the fruit is produced near the tops. There will be a great 

 many fine short side and fore-right shoots which should never 

 be cut off but when they are decayed. These shoots will ripen 

 much better than the long strong ones, and will not be so liable 

 to be k'lled bv the frost in winter. By following this method, 

 you wil have the trees covered with fruit from the top to the 

 bottom of the walls, instead of having a few fruit only at the 

 top, which is the case when the common method of pruning is 

 practised. 



When the figs are about the size of small nutmegs, you 

 should pinch off the point of the top bud with your finger and 

 thumb, or cut it with a sharp pen-knife ; and always remem- 

 ber to use the powder, wherever you cut or pinch, to stop the 



