January  3,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
15 
Figs  under  Glass. 
The  terminal  buds  of  trees  iu  pots  started  in  December  having 
swollen,  advantage  should  be  taken  of  any  mild  weather  that  may 
prevail  for  increasing  the  mean  temperature  of  the  house,  as  when  Figs 
are  fairly  started  into  growth  they  delight  in  a  good  heat,  plenty  of 
moisture,  and  all  the  light  that  can  possibly  be  given  them.  Admit 
air  so  as  to  prevent  the  glass  being  constantly  covered  with  moisture. 
Maintain  a  night  temperature  of  55°  to  60°,  ventilate  a  little  at  70°, 
losing  no  opportunity  of  admitting  a  little  air  when  the  morning 
promises  an  increase  from  gleams  of  sun,  and  close  sufficiently  early 
for  the  temperature  to  run  up  to  80°.  Syringe  the  trees  and  damp  the 
doors  and  walls  twice  on  fine  days,  morning  and  early  afternoon,  but 
by  bringing  the  trees  on  slowly,  seeking  advancement  from  sun  heat 
rather  than  artificial  in  dull  weather.  Apply  water  to  the  border  not 
less  warm  than  the  mean  of  the  house,  bringing  the  soil  into  a 
thoroughly  moist,  but  not  saturated  condition.  Syringe  twice  a  day 
with  tepid  water  a  little  warmer  than  the  house,  but  in  dull  weather 
damp  the  floor  and  border  only,  alwavs  syringing  sufficiently  early  to 
allow  the  trees  to  become  dry,  or  nearly  so,  before  nightfall. 
Succession  Houses. 
Proceed  with  pruning  as  convenient,  thinning  the  wood  where 
crowded,  cutting  back  that  which  has  reached  the  extremity  of  the 
trellis  to  growth  well  disposed  for  supplanting  the  branches  cut  away 
in  bearing.  Thoroughly  cleanse  the  house,  limewash  the  walls,  wash 
the  trees  with  carbolic  or  petroleum  soapy  water,  usiug  a  brush ;  if 
the  trees  have  been  infested  with  scale  or  red  spider,  employ  the 
TOPIARY  WORK  AT  ELVA8TON  CASTLE— THE  YEW  GARDEN.  (See  page  13.) 
when  the  weather  is  dull  and  web  omit  the  latter  and  damp  the  floors 
in  the  evening  instead  of  syringing  the  trees,  as  these  are  weakened  and 
the  foliage  made  soft  by  keeping  them  wet  during  the  night,  therefore 
always  allow  the  trees  to  become  fairly  dry  before  nightfall.  Be 
careful  not  to  allow  the  heat  about  the  pots  to  exceed  70°  to  75°,  and 
if  the  materials  are  heating  too  violently  turn  them  as  a  means  of 
reducing  the  bottom  heat,  which,  however,  ought  to  be  kept  steady. 
Early  House  of  Planted-out  Trees. 
This  is  an  excellent  means  of  securing  the  finest  Figs  early  in  June, 
the  roots  being  confined  to  narrow  borders  about  one-third  the  width  of 
the  house,  and  the  soil  a  calcareous  loam  on  a  stratum  of  limestone 
or  sandstone,  so  as  to  insure  perfect  drainage  with  superfluous  water 
carried  oft'  by  a  drain.  The  house  should  be  started  without  delay, 
maintaining  a  night  temperature  of  50°,  55°  by  day,  and  60°  to  65°  from 
sun  heat.  Trees  that  have  been  started  about  the  same  time  for  a 
number  of  years  push  growth  with  little  excitement;  but  young  trees 
that  have  not  been  forced  start  tardily,  and  are  often  given  more  heat 
in  the  early  stages  than  is  good  for  the  crop.  This  should  be  avoided 
solution  at  a  strength  of  4  ozs.  to  a  gallon  of  water.  It  is  necessary  to 
dislodge  the  scale,  effecting  that  by  using  a  half-worn  brush  thoroughly 
cleansed  from  paint.  Remove  the  loose  surface  soil  or  mulohing,  and 
supply  fresh  lumpy  loam  with  sprinkling  of  approved  fertiliser.  Keep 
the  house  as  cool  and  dry  as  possible,  merely  excluding  frost,  or  nob 
allowing  the  temperature  to  fall  many  degrees  below  freezing  point. 
Young  Trees  in  Pots. 
If  these  are  wanted  for  early  work  another  season  the  plants  should 
be  placed  in  gentle  heat  during  this  month,  in  order  that  they  may 
make  and  properly  ripen  their  growth  by  September.  They  must  be 
.potted  without  delay,  using  good  turfy  loam,  rather  strong,  with  a 
fourth  of  well-decayed  cow  manure  aud  a  fifth  of  old  mortar  rubbish, 
draining  efficiently  and  potting  firmly.  Train  the  plants  with  a  single 
stem,  and  allow  the  radiating  branches  to  form  the  foundation  of  a 
good  bush  or  pyramid.  Insert  cuttings  cr  eyes  of  any  varieties  it  is 
desired  to  increase,  which  in  order  to  mike  growth  quickly  should 
be  encouraged  with  bottom  heat,  and  started  not  later  than  the 
beginning  of  February. — Grower. 
