ON FIGS AND THEIR CULTURE AT CHTSWICK. 



123 



have fallen in autumn, four trenches, radiating from the root 

 or stool in the form of a Maltese cross, are dug out, into which 

 the shoots or branches, divided into four equal bundles, are bent 

 down and covered with ten or twelve inches of soil, a similar 

 covering being placed over the crown. Here they remain until 

 the danger of frost is past, when they are released from their 

 winter's burial. In this way they are treated year after year, 

 the shoots or branches being thinned where necessary, and they 

 bear enormous quantities of fruit. 



Fruiting of the Fig. — Differing from the majority of fruit- 

 trees, the Fig will bear two, and sometimes, under very favour- 

 able circumstances, even three crops in one season. There is 

 the " first crop," which is borne on the shoots of the previous 

 year; the little round buds may easily be observed before the 

 leaf-growth commences. The "second crop" is borne on the 

 growing shoots of the current season. Some people are under 

 the impression that the half-grown fruits which remain on the 

 trees after the fall of the leaf are intended to form the next 

 year's "first crop." But it is not so; they are simply late 

 " second crop " fruit that failed to come to maturity through 

 want of heat, &c. In the Fig-growing countries there are the 

 recognised "first crop" and the "second crop" Figs, some 

 varieties being suited for the one purpose, some for the other. 

 In this country it is only the " first crop" varieties which come 

 to maturity in the open air, the season of summer warmth being 

 too short to do more ; but under glass excellent crops both of the 

 " first " and " second crop " Figs may be obtained where suitable 

 varieties are grown. A singular point to be noticed is the 

 markedly different shape of the fruits of the " first " and " second 

 crops " off the same trees — the fruits of the " first crop " being 

 long, nearly twice as long as those of the " second," which are 

 frequently almost oblate. 



The Setting of the Fruit. — The fruit, or edible portion, of 

 the Fig is very curious, being the common receptacle of a con- 

 geries of flowers, which consist of numerous small florets lining 

 the internal walls or surface of the embryo fruit, so that they 

 are not visible without cutting the fruit open. Some of these 

 florets are male, some female. With regard to the manner in 

 which the hidden flowers or florets are set, we know little or 

 nothing. 



