510 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



mixture is taken up the mortar rubble should be clearly discernible. 

 We do the potting at two seasons : those to be forced early are potted 

 in September, and those intended for late forcing in January. The 

 former are afterwards stood out of doors until forcing commences, or 

 until frost is threatening. The latter are all placed pot tO' pot in a 

 cool house where the frost is just excluded. Here they remain until 

 room can be found for them, as the pot Strawberries cease to occupy 

 so much room. Then a gradual thinning out takes place; this still 

 continues as the early forced fruit trees in pots are hardened off and 

 stood outside. 



It is somewhat surprising to note how quickly the Figs respond to 

 generous treatment during the early summer. The houses are closed 

 early, and syringing, with damping down, is carefully attended to. 



Insects scarcely trouble us at all ; the worst being a scale insect, 

 for which vaporizing with Nicotine and sponging with an insecticide of 

 moderate strength are the remedies. Eed spider gives no trouble 

 whatever, and fortunately we have no mealy bug. The mealy bug, 

 where present on Figs, is perhaps the worst of all insect pests. It 

 seems simply to luxuriate upon the foliage and in the warmth and 

 moisture of the house. 



As growth progresses and the young rootlets appear upon the 

 surface of the soil we top-dress. In doing this we build up a ring of 

 soil next to the pot, but do not add to that in the centre — some will be 

 sure to find its way there. The soil used for this purpose is rather 

 moist, and it holds well together until the roots have taken full 

 possession of it, then it cannot be very well moved. In less than 

 three weeks this added soil will be full of roots, and no one needs to be 

 told how beneficial this is to the plants. I place a deal of importance 

 upon the work of top-dressing; it is most essential, and in no way 

 impedes the process of watering. We never allow the Figs to suffer from 

 want of water; in hot weather watering has to be attended to closely, 

 otherwise burning would ensue, and the way would be made clear for 

 an attack of the red spider. 



Eapid Peopagation. 



In view of this lecture, I decided early in 1911 to test the capacity 

 of the Fig for rapid growth and early fruitfulness. 



In order to gain as much time as possible, we started propagating 

 the first week in January last. The notes made during the 

 season are as follows : Eyes were inserted, some in soil, others in cocoa- j 

 nut fibre, on January 2, the' pots being plunged in a bottom | 

 heat of 100° ; about 80 per cent, rooted in the fibre and 60 per cent, 

 in the soil. Some were left with one eye, others with two, the results 

 being about the same. The tips of the shoots, where the terminals 

 were well developed, were also inserted. They all grew away well. 

 In the second week of Februarj^ they were taken out of the propagating 

 frame, but remained in the same house, which was kept at 60° by 

 night and 65° by day, being of course gradually hardened off. These 



