512 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



growth. Next season they will, if placed in warmth during April, 

 yield a good crop during the early autumn, when we find a great demand 

 for Figs. 



The ' St. John ' and ' Pingo de Mel ' will be started during January 

 with the view of having ripe fruit towards the end of May. They 

 will continue bearing for about six weeks, and after that an occasional 

 fruit will be given. The following autumn, however, we shall start 

 them again, early in November, expecting to pick ripe fruit in March. 

 These varieties will, as I have already stated, remain in the same pots 

 until next September, when they will be given a good shift forward. 

 It is somewhat surprising what can be done with the Fig under these 

 conditions. It is amenable both to early and to late forcing when well 

 cared for. 



Varieties for Pot Cultivation.— -y^e grow fifteen varieties of the Fig 

 in pots. Of these I consider the following to be the best and most 

 suitable for the purpose: — 



For forcing purposes, either ' Pingo de Mel ' or * St. John ' ; these 

 two are very similar, possessing the same luxuriant growth. Both 

 bear freely in pots when forced early, and both require thinning freely. 

 When ripe the fruits of both are of a pale yellowish-green. The fruits 

 are very sweet and good, but somewhat softer than many Figs. 

 Neither * St. John ' nor ' Pingo de Mel ' is recommended for planting 

 out, for both are far too vigorous in growth. ' Brown Turkey ' in most 

 British gardens will follow the preceding easily. It is better in my 

 opinion for early th^an for late forcing. It crops freely with fruits of 

 medium size, somewhat paler than from trained trees. Under pot 

 cultivation it is quite moderate in growth. 



For mid-season use ' Violette Sepor ' is an excellent Fig, and an 

 abundant cropper. The fruits are of medium size, but somewhat dis- 

 posed to crack. In flavour it is very rich and syrupy, and its constitu- 

 tion is good. 



' Negro Largo ' is a well-known and in all respects an excellent Fig, 

 not adapted, it is true, for early forcing, but for mid-season or late 

 crops it is one of the very best we have. It is a most prolific cropper, 

 and this extends over a very long period. From point of flavour it 

 can scarcely be equalled and rarely excelled. It has a disposition to 

 shrivel upon the tree: then it is, in my opinion, at its very best. For 

 packing purposes it is excellent, the flesh being firm and not liable to 

 bruise. 



* Bourjassotte Grise,' from the point of flavour and appearance, 

 must be classed as one of the very best we grow. It is very syrupy 

 and rich. When fully ripe its skin is extremely thin. As a prolific 

 Fig under pot cultivation it is excellent. If I were confined to three 

 varieties this would be one of them. 



' White Ischia ' is a little Fig, the smallest with which I am 

 acquainted. It is most prolific in bearing, and very juicy and sweet 

 when fully ripened. The colour is a pale yellowish-green, and the skin i 

 extremely thin. It makes a most distinct dish. 



