232 
JOURNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
the second crop is not nearly so good, but taking into consideration the 
value of the first crop, the one following is not of so great an importance. 
The St. John Fig is an excellent example of the advantages derived from 
pot culture versus the planting-out system. It is, when not restricted at 
the roots, an extra strong grower, so much so as to prejudice its reputation 
for being a good cropper. In pots it bears most abundant crops, which 
require thinning in order to secure fruits of good size. Brown Turkey and 
White Marseilles are capital varieties for succession. Our plan is to start 
the first early batch of St. John or Pingo-de-Mel about October 20, or at 
the latest by November 1. These will ripen their fruits from the middle 
to the end of February. Later batches continue the succession until 
about the end of April, when trained trees can be had in good bearing. 
No variation is made in respect to temperatures from what obtains in 
other systems of forcing the Fig. Bottom heat is supplied by means of 
leaves ; no manure is added to the leaves for fear of an excess of heat. 
The bottom heat ranges from 70°, 75° to 80° ; being maintained, if need 
be, by hot-water pipes. The moisture arising from the leaves dispenses 
to a considerable degree with a liberal use of the syringe ; it is not well 
to allow the young foliage to remain wet at night, otherwise it will become 
too flaccid during, the dull and often sunless weather of the winter season. 
The night temperature at the time of starting is about 50°, rising 10° 
and 15° during the day ; this will suffice until the young foliage and fruits 
are well advanced. A steady increase is given, but not beyond 65° at 
night, until the fruits are swelling for the final stage ; then another 
increase is given — say, 68° to 70°. A corresponding increase by day 
follows, as a matter of course. The syringe should again be used 
cautiously when the fruits are ripening, especially in the case of St. John, 
which has a thin skin. When the wood is well ripened and no more 
fruits are forthcoming the early forced bushes are taken out of doors 
after a gradual hardening off, or, if too early for full exposure, are re- 
moved to a cooler house. These early ones are safe out of doors in June, 
a sunny position being finally the best for them. The roots will frequently 
have extended beyond the pots into the leaves, but the check given to the 
plants will not be of any particular moment. 
Late Forcing. — The treatment accorded in this instance varies some- 
what from that given to the early forced lot. These are kept cool, so as 
to retard the growth as much as possible. By the end of March or early 
in April there will be signs of returning vitality, when a portion of the 
stock should be placed under more favourable conditions as regards 
growth — a late vinery for instance just closed, or any other house where 
somewhat similar conditions prevail. It is not desirable to ^excite the 
growth too much thus early, nor until room can be found to accommodate 
the plants. Cold pits or frames even will answer for some little time. 
Our plan is to work the various batches of late Figs through the orchard- 
houses as the forced trees go outside, or through the strawberry-houses 
meanwhile. For some weeks, however, it is possible to keep them in 
cold pits with just sufficient protection to keep off frost. A free growth 
is encouraged during the season by closing early and by generous 
atmospheric conditions, more moisture being given to these than to the 
early forced stock. It is essential to avoid a starved or stunted growth. 
