172 



THE ORCHAED Al^D FKUIT GARDEN. 



In England, fig trees require protection in winter, 

 covering them u^p with mats, straw, fern, spruce, or 

 boughs, before the time of severe frost, and removing 

 the mats as soon as it seems over: fern or straw may 

 remain a Httle longer, and spruce until the time for 

 pruning. The pruning must not be dpne until the 

 buds begin to swell. 



Old, useless boughs may be cut out entirely. In the 

 growing period remove superfluous shoots, when the 

 young shoots are about three inches long, leaving those 

 which are short and compact growing. If the tree is 

 trained, reserve what are wanted for covering blank spots. 

 All the useless spray must be removed until about 

 August, as growth of the sort will often continue until 

 then, especially in moist summers. By this means all 

 the wood for bearing next year will get good exposure to 

 sun and air. When the little figs are the size of nut- 

 megs, the ends of the shoots may be nipped off to 

 encourage their swelling, and all suckers must be 

 destroyed from time to time when necessary. 



Where a wall is required for the fig, as it is in most 

 localities, horizontal training is best, and ample space is 

 required for it. It is said figs may be grown as bushes 

 in gardens as far north as London, and in parts of 

 England south of that, if they are taken up early in 

 November, without disturbing the earth round the 

 roots, kept in a cellar until there is no longer danger 

 of spring frosts, and then planted out where they 

 were taken from. Figs thus treated will ripen a crop 

 of fruit in September. 



Young fig trees may be bought for 2s. Qd. and 35. Qd. 

 each, and of larger size for 5s. 



The kinds are numerous. 



The White Marseilles, the Madeleine of France, White 

 Naples, or White Standard, is a fig of luscious sweetness, 

 which bears abundantly, and does well for forcing. The 

 fruit is of medium size, roundish, ribbed, yellowish-green 

 when fully ripe, and ripening in August. It will ripen 

 in England against a wall, and in a warm locality it does 

 as a standard. Mr. Rivers states that this "will thrive and 



