4 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ January 6, issi. 
The first crop of the fruit of a Fig tree is borne on the wood of 
the previous season’s formation, as represented by fig. 1, the 
youDg embryo fruit being shown at a. That of the second and 
succeeding crop is produced in the axils of the leaves on the wood 
of the current season’s formation, which will be represented here¬ 
after. Fig. 2 represents the remnant of the last crop of fruit of 
the previous season as they are to be seen frequently on the 
plants after the fall of the leaves in autumn. These fruits are 
ignorantly believed by many to be those which form the first 
crop of the following year, and are jealously protected through¬ 
out the winter on that account. They are, however, merely late 
fruit of the past season which failed to arrive at maturity through 
want of heat or the conditions required for that end. These fruit 
are not worth consideration. A few may, under very favourable 
conditions, remain on and ripen, but very seldom. 
Fig. 3 is a representation of a shoot having wood buds only. 
These three figures, then, represent the different characters of 
shoots with the position of the fruits, &c., as they are commonly 
Fig. 2. 
to be met with on a Fig tree at rest during the winter time. 
Where the wood is well ripened and in its best conditions, as will 
be found with pot plants and trees in houses, shoots, as in fig. 1, 
will predominate. A little will, however, depend upon the 
varieties ; and when the wood is badly ripened, as where the 
shoots are crowded, those with wood buds only, as in fig. 3, will 
be produced. It is necessary to fully understand the characters 
and the offices of each of these before attempting the office of 
pruner. 
Pruning. —It is an old saying, “ that a pruned Fig tree never 
bears,” which is to a certain extent true, but only with relation 
to the first crop, or with trees in the open air, or where sufficient 
heat is not available to ripen the second crop. This must be dis¬ 
tinctly understood—that it is entirely owiug to the want of heat 
if the second crop of fruit is not obtained, either in relation, in 
the first place, to immaturity of the wood which fails to produce 
fruit, or to the fruits being produced and failing to ripen, as shown 
by fig. 2. Knowing, then, whence and how the fruits are all pro¬ 
duced we are enabled to prune with certainty for a required end. 
If we cut back the fruit-bearing shoots (fig. 1), we destroy the 
first crop of fruit, and if heat is wanting the second crop also, 
the shoots produced after pruning being very frequently of a 
watery and unfruitful character. Fig trees bearing shoots, as 
in figs. 2 and 3, may be pruned without any loss of crop. It is, 
however, clearly shown that to prune a Fig tree to any extent 
is a distinct loss of fruit. As, however, the operation must at 
times be performed to keep the trees within form and limits, it 
is my duty to show how that can best be done at the least sacrifice, 
and this must be considered under various conditions. 
1, Trees on walls and as standards in the open air will, if pruned 
(by which is meant that particular shoot), through the want of 
heat or the shortness of the season, produce no fruit; so that, ex¬ 
cepting in extreme cases, a portion only of the shoots should be 
cut back. 
2, Trees planted out in houses with or without heat, being 
generally inclined to vigour of growth, will, if pruned, produce 
gross shoots, and consequently but seldom produce fruits that 
season. In this case also partial pruning only is advisable. 
3, Trees in pots having their roots entirely under the control 
of the cultivator, and the wood being properly ripened, will, if 
pruned, produce an abundant second crop. 
In the first example it is the first crop of fruit only which can 
be depended on under any circumstances. In the second example 
both the first and second crops may be secured if the trees are un¬ 
pruned, but not otherwise. And in the third example, with trees 
in pots, by non-pruning we secure the first crop, and by pruning, 
the second and frequently a third crop. Only with pot trees, 
then, can pruning be effected with a certainty of a crop the same 
season. If in this case, then, the first crop is desired, the shoots 
as in fig. 1, must not be cut, excepting just a few here and there 
to keep the plant in trim. All shoots, however, bearing only 
wood buds, as in fig. 3, may be shortened back if necessary, 
with exactly the same result as to fruiting as if left unpruned. 
Pruning should be performed as soon after the fall of the leaf 
as possible, in whatever situation the trees may be, whether in 
pots under glass or in the open air. When the trees are pruned 
at that season, the plant being at rest, the wounds are soon healed 
over and no injury is sustained ; whilst, if the operation is delayed 
until late in spring, when the sap is again in motion, there is such 
a volume of sap and it is of that nature, that the shoots are apt 
to die after the knife : hence another of the reasons against the 
pruning of the Fig, which we are warned against in nearly all 
the writings on the subject. 
Bush or half-standard trees when planted out are extremely apt 
to grow too luxuriantly, and in consequence become unfruitful. 
The shoots should be kept very thin, so as to obtain all the sun’s 
influence possible to thoroughly ripen the wood, and in the 
summer the young growing shoots should be vigorously pinched, 
in order to check luxuriance and brrng the tree into a stubby 
fruitful form of growth.—A. B. C. 
DROSERAS. 
Much has been written from time to time on Sundews, and 
much more could be advantageously written. All the species of 
Sundews are peculiar and interesting—peculiar from a structural 
point of view, and interesting on account of their carnivorous 
or insectivorous propensities. The genus Drosera embraces about 
eight or nine species known to gardens, but there are many species 
described that are not in cultivation. They are found growing 
nearly all over the world where there are bogs. Of the cultivated 
species Drosera binata (dichotoma) is by far the largest, and the 
species from Australia are much more elegant than our British 
forms. Droseras have no economic properties, but Dr. Lindley 
remarks that the viscid fluid with which the hairs are furnished 
is said to curdle milk and to remove warts, corns, freckles, and 
sunburns. It has been said to cause the rot in sheep. The 
virtues ascribed to it may be real or imaginary, but with respect 
to its mischievous effects on sheep there can be no doubt that 
where Sundews grow there flocks are not likely to fatten, for 
