INJURIES TO FRUIT 



205 



the demand for plant food and moisture, and how 

 rapidly roots extend, or trees would be given more 

 ground. To maintain a sufficient depth of soil is a 

 task requiring the greatest attention, for trees grad- 

 ually interlace their roots until the inevitable time 

 comes when all soil is occupied, the task of furnish- 

 ing fertility increasing as they develop. 



WORMS. 



"Worms in dried figs are hatched from eggs laid 

 after the fruit is cured. This may be avoided by 

 excluding the small moths which deposit them, or 

 dipping the fruit in hot water, or lightly sulphuring 

 in a closed box. or room. Sweet bay leaves scattered 

 through the fruit will prevent infestations. 



A number of insects, including vinegar flies, lay 

 eggs in fresh fruit, whenever an opening is found. 

 These soon hatch, for which, of course, there is no 

 remedy other than care in picking. 



SOURIXG OF FRUIT. 



The fig sours more readily than any other fruit. 

 Of varieties grown in this country the Xew French 

 is the best keeper, by reason of its closed eye. fer- 

 mentation fungus not finding entrance to the deli- 

 cate juice cells until the skin is broken. Those de- 

 ficient in sugar sour most readily, and the same va- 

 riety has a greater tendency to spoil when grown 

 on wet land than where the earth is warm and mel- 



