MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 89 



Be careful to observe, when you put on the grass, that 

 no mice, &c. have got amongst it ; and examine during the 

 winter that no rats or mice get among the branches of the trees 

 that are covered against the walls ; if they do, they will infal- 

 libly bark the branches, and in that case you will be under the 

 necessity of heading the trees down. 



I would recommend setting traps, such as shall be de- 

 scribed hereafter, near the roots of the trees, as soon as they 

 are covered. 



Take care not to uncover the figs too soon in the spring ; 

 and it should be done partially, as frequently there are frosts 

 and cutting winds in the months of April and May, which 

 will infallibly kill the young fruit as they make their appear- 

 ance in the spring. 



Those branches which have been laid into the ground 

 should be taken up in the month of April, taking off the hay 

 and straw-bands, and then nailed to the wall. Stick in 

 among the branches some fern-leaves, or any other light 

 covering, to protect them from the drying winds and frosts, 

 till the fruit comes to the size of a large walnut, or rather till 

 the leaves are sufficiently large to protect the fruit. 



The Italians, when they wish to forward the ripening of 

 figs, drop in a little sweet oil, from a quill, into the eye of the 

 fruit ; but care must be taken not to hurt the skin, which would 

 make the fig burst. This will make a difference at least of a 

 fortnight in the ripening. 



As soon as the leaves begin to fall, brush them off with a 

 broom, but by no means till they will come off easily. If they 

 are forced off before they begin to wither and decay, the trees 

 will bleed at the foot-stalks. At the same time you should 

 clear the stalks of the small late fruit, which, if suffered to 

 remain during the winter, will rot, and injure the tree so as to 

 prevent it from bearing the ensuing summer. If you observe 

 any milk oozing from the foot-stalks, use a little of the compo- 

 sition, which will stop it and heal the injured part. By doing 

 this, you will assist the ripening and hardening of the wood 

 before the winter frosts set in. 



When you plant fig-trees, let them be from twenty to 

 twenty-four feet apart, and train them horizontally, which 

 will render them much more fruitful than when they are 

 trained upright, which causes them to run up in long naked 

 wood. 



Observe also to leave spurs, or short shoots, all over the 

 branches ; and when the buds begin to swell, all the short 

 shoots should be pinched, as before directed. 



