THE CULTIVATION OF THE FIG IN POTS. 



509 



is that of an ordmary greenhouse, or no lower than freezing-point, 

 for most of our Figs are arranged for late forcing, and it is, therefore, 

 not advisable to let the temper,ature fall any lower. When an early 

 batch of Figs is forced in pots, it is always possible to refill the house 

 with a later lot — thus the whole season is worked round on the double - 

 cropping system. This cannot be done with planted-out trees, whilst 

 at the same time the shade imparted is so dense as to render the house 

 of but little use for six months in the year. 



It cannot be said that the Fig is difficult of cultivation if given 

 good soil and rational treatment. When in growth it needs attention, 

 and thrives well under the same treatment as that accorded to vines. 

 It luxuriates in a warm, moist atmosphere, and will, in spite of its 

 rapid leaf-development, succeed best without shading. Throughout the 

 East it thrives best in the hottest positions, and in places where scarcely 

 anything else would thrive at all. For soil it seems to favour the 

 alluvial detritus that has worked downwards in the course of time 

 from higher ground, and which contains a high percentage of lime. 

 This fact affords a clue of its liking as regards soil. The Fig will, 

 as a matter of course, grow in soil where the percentage of nitro- 

 genous matter is high, but with disastrous results as to fruiting — 

 it then produces gross shoots and large leaves. This all, to my 

 mind, points to the utility of pot cultivation. Those growers who 

 still practise the planting-out system have come to recognize this 

 in the formation of restricted borders. Even when these are made, 

 it is not possible to^ produce the same amount of variety as when 

 grown in pots. The prolific character of some varieties is only brought 

 about by restricted root action. Again, gross growth favours disease 

 against which one has to be on guard. Even when grown in pots 

 the vigour of some varieties, such as ' St. John ' and * Pingo de Mel, ' 

 is manifest. Both of these, if planted out, may be expected to be 

 comparative failures. 



Our method of cultivation is very similar to that adopted with the 

 general run of fruit trees in pots, but we do not repot the Figs every 

 year as we do most other pot trees. On the other hand, we treat 

 the trees according to their individual needs ; sometimes all of the soil 

 is shaken off the roots, so much so as to create a wonder if they would 

 overcome this treatment. When this is done, some of the old and 

 inert roots are pruned away entirely. At other times a top-dressing 

 only is given, first clearing out the surface soil to a depth of three or 

 four inches. In doing this care is taken of the roots. These are fairly 

 abundant, having made good use of the top-dressing given during the 

 growing season. They are carefully laid down in the fresh soil, which 

 ' is made quite firm. I thoroughly believe in firm potting: it is the 

 essential of success in the cultivation of all pot fruits. Our choice of 

 soil for the Fig is a good turfy calcareous loam, rather inclined to be 

 i Heavy as contrasted with what is termed a sandy loam. To this we 

 I add a good proportion of old mortar rubble, pounded down so that the 

 i largest pieces are no bigger than a nut. When a handful of this 



