508 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE CULTIVATION OF THE FIG IN POTS. 



By J. Hudson, V.M.H. 

 [Read November 7, 1911; Sir Albert Rollit, LL.D., in the Chair.] 



It is now about thirty-five years since I first successfully cultivated 

 Figs in pots. At that time the system was but little known, but it has 

 since grown considerably, and there is now a good demand for young 

 Fig-trees in pots every autumn. It is to try to encourage this method 

 of cultivation and to induce amateur gardeners to give more attention 

 to what is, even now, a somewhat neglected source of supply of the 

 choicest of dessert fruits, that I have undertaken to read this paper. 

 It may be said that such large fruits cannot be secured under pot 

 cultivation as can be grown upon planted-out trees. I readily admit 

 this ; but in point of flavour, I claim that under pot cultivation much 

 more luscious fruits can be grown, for the fruits have their saccharine 

 juices much better developed. 



A well-ripened Fig from a pot tree, secured at the right time, is 

 very difficult to beat. A good indication of its perfect ripeness is in 

 the skin beginning to crack slightly, and when it is so thin as to be 

 almost merged into the fruit itself. Another sign is that the fruit has 

 a tear in its eye." I have yet to learn that mere size, as it per- 

 tains to high-class dessert fruit, has any substantial claim whatever. 

 As instances of this one may mention the ' Gros Oolmar ' Gr^pe when 

 contrasted with the * Frontignans,' the 'Cayenne' Pine Apple when 

 compared with the * Queen, ' or, to come closer home, there is no com- 

 parison between a large fruit of the * Brunswick ' Fig and a smaller 

 example of ' Negro Largo ' or ' Bourjassotte Grise.' Since we have 

 developed great size in melons, nothing has been added to the flavour. 

 For this essential, growers cannot now surpass the fine flavour of the 

 old ' Beechwood,' the ' Egyptian Green Flesh,' or ' Turner's Scarlet 

 Gem ' ; and it is doubtful whether the flavour of these old varieties can 

 now be equalled. 



The fine collection of Pot Figs formed at Ohiswick under the late 

 Mr. A. F. Barron, and now transferred to Wisley, has been the means 

 of fostering cultivation in pots. The varieties he got together have 

 formed the nucleus of a very fine collection, and it has been pos- 

 sible to select the best for any special purpose. When Mr. Barron 

 had these under his charge at Ohiswick, I asked him on one occa- 

 sion if it was really essential to grow them in such large pots. 

 His opinion was in favour of that practice. I thought otherwise, and 

 have retained our collection in comparatively small ones, and to my 

 entire satisfaction. By using small pots, the amount of labour conse- 

 quent on removal from house to house is considerably reduced. When 

 our late stock has cast its leaves the pots stand pot to pot, thus the 

 room taken up is small. The temperature then for the general stock 



