598 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[Jan. 



FORCING FIGS. 



Few houses are built expressly for forcing this fruit. They 

 are generally forced in the cherry-house, or planted upon the 

 back walls of vineries or peach-houses, and trained in the fan 

 manner to the wall, or more generally to a trelUs ; but as figs, 

 under all circumstances, thrive better as standards than other- 

 wise, they are also found to succeed better as such in forcing- 

 houses, and to succeed pretty well if planted in the middle 

 of vineries, as dwarf-standards, under the shade of the vines, 

 and in this case often ripen both their spring and autumn crops. 

 We would consider it the most eligible method to have them 

 in boxes, or large pots, as by this means, they could be re- 

 moved at pleasure to the most convenient situations in the 

 houses. But where there is the convenience of a cherry-house, 

 it will answer equally well for both plums and figs, and a house 

 of ordinary dimensions will, under good management, afford 

 enough of all these fruits for a large family. 



Figs, in whatever situation, are very subject to be attacked with 

 the red spider. Care must be taken to use the garden-engine, 

 or Reid's syringe, with force upon the foliage, and when the 

 fruit begins to ripen, as it would be detrimental to the flavor 

 of the figs to be much watered, recourse must be tlien had to 

 a painter's brush, with which to brush the leaves, but this 

 must be carefully done, as the leaves of the fig, like those of 

 the vine and melon, are exti'emely delicate in their young state, 

 upon which the spider is most likely to commit its ravages. 

 When the leaves become older, and of course more robust, less 

 care is necessary. Few other insects annoy the fig, except the 

 coccus or scaly insect, which will do little injury to the trees, 

 and may be rubbed off with the finger, or left on till the fall 

 of the leaves, and then washed off with soap and water. The 

 red spider may also be suppressed by sprinkling the flues, 

 when they are pretty hot, with flour of brimstone, or a little 

 of it may be sprinkled on the leaves with good effect. 



FORCING CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 



The production of these fruits at an early season of the yeai 

 is an object of considerable emulation amongst gardeners, and 



