174 FIG. 



as to the planting ; but bis excellent rules and direc- 

 tions as to the management were neglected. In 

 course of time, however, the culture of the fig be- 

 came better understood ; and we have now in many 

 places figgeries, both within and out of doors, which 

 are eminently prolific. 



Our winters have been less severe than formerly ; 

 and to this perhaps may be attributed the better 

 success of the fig tree, as standards, in the open 

 ground. Near Worthing, in Sussex, there is an 

 orchard containing one hundred fig trees ; from which 

 have been gathered one hundred dozens per day, 

 during the months of August, September, and Oc- 

 tober. There is also in the garden of the late Lord 

 Henry Seymour, in the Isle of Wight, a border 

 under a high wall, having a rank of various sorts of 

 standard figs planted along the middle, which pro- 

 duces immense crops every year. Both these places 

 are within the influence of the sea air, in which frost 

 is never so intense as in places more inland ; but in 

 the neighbourhood of London, standard fig trees 

 often do very well. Fifty years ago, fig trees on 

 walls were regularly matted up to save them from 

 frost, and which is still a good custom in severe 

 weather. 



The best soil for figs, is a light fresh loam, from 

 a foot to eighteen inches deep, upon a hard subsoil 

 of rock, chalk, gravel, or even on a compact bed of 

 clay, provided it be perfectly dry. An ordinary de- 

 gree of moisture is necessary to the fig, but not 

 continual or stagnant water at the roots, which occa- 



