204 



FIG CULTURE 



It is easy to mistake the causes of sunburn result- 

 ing usually from exposure of frosted trees to direct 

 sunlight early in mornings before time has been had 

 for thawing slowly. The rapid shrinking and swell- 

 ing from alternate frosts and mild temperatures 

 causes the fiber to be injured, and its checked char- 

 acter appears later in the season. 



Occasionally it results from hot sunlight during 

 dry weather, not. however, in humid localities, but 

 only in arid climates, the Southern country near the 

 coast being free from this disease. Numerous satis- 

 factory protectors are for sale by nurserymen and 

 plant distributers, but common newspaper tied 

 around exposed bark with woolen yarn is entirely 

 efficient. 



FALLING OF FRUIT. 



Aside from Smyrna and Calimyrna varieties, 

 which drop their fruit green unless caprificated. the 

 principal causes of losing the crop in this way is 

 excessive dryness, cold weather and lack of tillage. 

 Under exceptional conditions a fig tree can be culti- 

 vated until its fruitfulness is impaired: but there 

 is small danger of such unusual care, unless for ex- 

 perimental purposes. Dryness of soil is often the 

 result of insufficient tillage, for by maintaining a 

 good earth mulch on land that has been plowed deep 

 it usually stores ample moisture to provide trees 

 during ordinary drouths, if they are not too ciose 

 together in rows. Few orehardists seem to realize 



