THE CULTIVATION OF THE FIG IN POTS. 



511 



young plants were potted into five-inch pots on February 21, bottom 

 heat of about 80^ being still afforded. The soil used was composed of 

 two parts of good turfy loam and one part of old mushroom bed 

 manure, a good sprinkling of sand being added thereto. Cuttings of 

 the young wood taken from a house that had been started the first 

 week in November were also inserted on February 13. These struck 

 well ; the varieties so treated were ' St. John ' and * Negro Largo. ' 

 They were potted into five-inch pots on March 4. All were potted 

 into nine-inch pots on May 1. In doing this a space of about two 

 inches was left for top-dressing afterwards. The soil used this time 

 was three parts of loam to one of mushroom manure, and one part of 

 lime rubble with a sprinkling of bone meal. 



The first top-dressing was given on June 30, being composed of 

 two parts of loam to one of hop manure, with a sprinkling of lime 

 rubble and bone meal .(I should add here that the roots were quite 

 active upon the surface before this or any after surface-dressing was 

 given). The final top-dressing was on August 4, using the same in- 

 gredients as before. The first fruits were picked on August 27, less 

 than eight months from the time of striking the cuttings. Since then 

 the plants have been fed twice a week with manure water, and with 

 an occasional sprinkling of blood manure when the pots were full of 

 roots. An indication of the state of the roots may be gained from the 

 fact that the most vigorous plants frequently require water three times 

 a day. The plants struck from cuttings of ' Negro Largo ' were quite 

 as good as those from eyes, both in size and in fruit. The cuttings of 

 * St.. John ' have also made fine plants, but have as yet yielded only an 

 occasional fruit. They will, however, give a good crop next May if 

 introduced into heat during January. They are now being ripened off 

 with that object in view. We shall not, I think, repot any of this 

 variety before starting afresh, for it is a notoriously strong grower, 

 but shall rather depend upon plunging material and feeding. ' Pingo 

 de Mel,' which is almost identical with the last, requires the same 

 treatment. The best of these young plants now fruiting are ' Negro 

 Largo,' 'White Ischia,' * Violette de Bordeaux,' 'Col di Signora 

 Bianca, ' * Bourjassotte Grise,' and an occasional plant oi ' Brown 

 Turkey.' 



Given an average condition of the weather, we hope still to pick 

 Figs from these young plants up to the end of November. [Eipe fruits 

 were picked up to December 28, 1911. — J.H.] The temperature now 

 maintained is about 65^ at night with a fall to 60^ at daybreak, and as 

 good a rise during the day as we can secure with a moderate amount 

 ! of ventilation. Now we have to guard against any superfluous amount 

 i of moisture, which would tend to damping, causing spots upon the 

 1 fruit. Later on, as the plants cease to fruit, they will be gradually 

 I ripened off, and will cast all their foliage. The temperatures will 

 [ gradually fall until a minimum of 10^ is reached. Lower than that 

 it is not expedient to go with young plants for the first season. About 

 three months' rest will be given them before they are again started into 



