480 



On the Cultivation of Fig-trees, &c. 



public ; the success of it I have had an opportunity of per- 

 sonally witnessing. 



I am fully satisfied that many cases of failure in obtaining 

 crops of well ripened Figs, have arisen from the want of 

 knowledge of the kinds best adapted to the climate, and 

 other circumstances in our gardens. Those which produce 

 freely and abundantly fruits of good flavour and appearance, 

 are, as in all other cases, the objects of cultivation; but 

 Fig-trees with these properties are not known correctly by 

 name, and still less so in description, so that at present, the 

 only safe mode of acquiring plants in the first instance, is to 

 obtain cuttings or layers from some garden in which a good 

 sort is known to exist. The varieties of Fig-trees which 

 are to be had by name in the nurseries, are many, but I be- 

 lieve that those which are really deserving of cultivation, 

 are very few in number, perhaps less than those of any 

 other of our established fruits. Those, however, which 

 have the requisite merits, are sufficiently distinguished from 

 each other, in their external character, and periods of ma- 

 turity, to furnish such a supply to the table, as well in variety 

 of appearance as at different seasons, as can be desired. All 

 that is requisite is, that they should be so described and 

 named, as that no difficulty shall occur in obtaining them 

 when wanted. 



Last summer, in walking round the gardens at Ashridge, I 

 was particularly gratified by the appearance of the Fig-house, 

 the dimensions of which I made notes of, and was supplied 

 with the particulars of treatment by Mr. Thomas Torbron 

 the gardener, of whose ability and skill the Transactions of 

 this Society already contain abundant evidence. 



