82 On the Culture of Fig Trees, in the open air. 



hope of procuring what are called fruit spurs, along the 

 whole extent of the branches ; but this mode of bearing 

 never takes place in the fig tree, though the short midsum- 

 mer shoots have often so much the appearance of spurs, as 

 to deceive any gardener, not well acquainted with the natural 

 habit of the tree, and the very peculiar manner, in which its 

 fructification is effected. 



Note D. 



Where there is a large extent of wall, covered with fig 

 trees, it might, perhaps, be the safest way, to rest contented 

 with the mode of pruning and training, here first described. 

 It will insure a moderate, but nearly certain supply of fruit, 

 capable of ripening, and will require much less attention, 

 and labour, than the part of the general system, next about to 

 be explained, and recommended ; but, besides that it will 

 necessarily furnish a much less quantity of fruit, from any 

 given space of wall, it is open to this further objection (which 

 in this climate is a very serious one), viz. that the foreright 

 shoots of the year, if left at their full length, on the branches, 

 and not broken in the early part of summer, will cause so 

 thick a shade, as materially to retard the ripening of the 

 fruit, on the wall behind them. 



Note E. 



This mode of breaking the shoots, in June, is more par- 

 ticularly recommended to those, who have only small gardens, 

 and who can attend to the operation, or rather, who will 

 undertake to perform it, themselves. It has, indeed, this 

 great advantage, to gardens so circumstanced, that it will 



