OUTDOOR FIGS IN WALES. 



127 



that fruit is borne. The fruit-bearing branches should be stopped in 

 August to encourage the ripening of the fruit already formed, and also to 

 induce the formation of fruit for the ensuing season. 



The Application of Manure and General Notes. 



As before mentioned, the soil in which Figs are grown must be desti- 

 tute of manure, i.e. in a solid form ; but although I advocate this it must 

 be strictly understood that in order to facilitate the swelling and ripening 

 of the fruit the trees must be supplied with liquid manure, and that, 

 when the fruit has started to swell, administered frequently until signs 

 of ripening are perceived. The manure is best when applied in the form 

 of the drainings of dung heaps at the rate of one part to three parts of 

 water. 



It is seldom that the frosts in this locality register enough to seriously 

 damage the trees, but I know of some instances in which a few specimens 

 were cut down by a hard frost of twenty degrees simply because they had 

 been but recently pruned; therefore this fact points out a moral applicable 

 to all parts : prune Fig trees only in the summer by disbudding super- 

 abundant shoots and suppressing over-luxuriant laterals. " Prevention is 

 better than cure ;" therefore I find it best to roughly protect the trees 

 during winter by the simple and primitive method of covering with fronds 

 of the Common Fern (Pteris aquilina), which being light are not so liable; 

 to injure the buds by being blown about as would a heavier substance. 

 It must be understood that the less protection Figs have, consistently with 

 safety, the better, as it shades the buds too constantly from the light, the 

 consequence being an unsatisfactory crop of fruit ; all that is necessary is 

 to provide against the fluctuating cold and frosty winds of winter, the 

 coverings being left on for as short a period as possible. 



The folio wing varieties on trial have proved quite hardy and free- 

 bearing when trained on walls outside in various parts of North 

 Wales :— 



Brown IscJiia, a medium light brown fruit, the flesh sweet and 

 highly flavoured. 



Brown Turkey, large, very luscious, very prolific ; the best variety of 

 all for outside culture. 



Brunsivick, a very large brown fruit, very rich and excellent ; a free 

 bearer. 



Castle Kennedy, large, green, yellow ; hardy but not over-prolific. 

 Reculver, small purple fruit, very hardy. 



White Marseilles, medium size; flesh melting and juicy ; the second 

 best variety for outdoor culture. 



From the above it may be seen that Fig growing outside in North Wales 

 may well be encouraged. A list of six varieties of hardy fruit affords ample 

 scope for choosing those that are found to succeed best in each locality. 

 As a last word it may be well to state that the less " coddling " given 

 to the trees the better ; simply attend to the main points of culture and 

 leave the rest to nature, and the result will be success in the cultivation 

 of the most delicious fruit extant. 



