On the Management of Fig Trees in the open air. 347 



they are then made fast to the wall with good ties of rope 

 yarn. I let them remain in this state until March, when I take 

 off the mats, and remove the hay. Selecting the best placed and 

 most productive branches, and taking out ill placed, superflu- 

 ous, and irregular ones, I train to the wall, those which are pre- 

 served, in proper regularity and good order, according to their 

 situation, but not nearer to each other than six or eight inches. 

 After the whole tree has been nailed I cover it with a single 

 mat, which remains on until the middle of April, when it is 

 taken off and a net three times folded put in its place. The 

 net is taken away one fold at a time, according to the advance 

 of the foliage and warmth of the weather, and the whole tree 

 is cleared by the latter end of May. If I find during the sum- 

 mer that the leaves are so thick as to exclude the sun from the 

 fruit, I take off a few of them with care, but not so as to 

 admit much reflection from the wall, which would be injurious 

 to the fruit. In removing the leaves I am always mindful to 

 cut the foot-stalks directly under or close to the leaf, that the 

 oozing of the milk may soon dry up. 



Experienced Gardeners are well aware that the autumnal 

 fruits will ripen sooner and be larger and better flavoured 

 than those which make their appearance in spring, and by 

 pursuing the practice above recommended, such may be ob- 

 tained in full perfection. 



As it is very desirable to have a regular succession of Figs 

 from August to October inclusive, I cultivate the following 

 sorts, which ripen in the order in which they are named. 



1. Brown lschia 



2. Large White Genoa 



ripens in the middle of August, 

 ripens the end of August. 



