J
hv. wishes for wood, he must sulfer these new shoots to grow to tlieir full lengtli ; whore friiil, an
wood, Is desired, ho must break tliom in the month of June, in tlie manner and witli the preeautlon
liave heen minutely explained. (/foiV., VViiMS. vol. iii. p. 7-1. et seci.)
478.5. Kiiigid disapproves liighly of training tho branches ol (lg trees perpendieuliirly, as enemn
too mueli tiie prolongation of tho slioots; lie approves of Wickham s mode in warm situatums, f
hlgli cohl situations, lie radiates his branelies from tlie top, and parhs near it, ol a sing e stem, lie
“ let the stems, if tliere ho, as usual, many within a narrow space, he gradually redueed to ane _on|y
from the toj) and parts near it, of this, let lateral h - iclies bo oil In.
.jiiUilly and pendei
contact V 11 tlie Undei
of growth will 8
,ul
0011 disappear;
leaves will he
eouseqnenUy ceases to
being trained close to
y of maturo and jiro-
oungwood
; while, hy
intlty mull
iizoofthe tre e ; and tlm fruit,
111 early and perfect m aturity.”
mil treatment, all troublesome In
«le'peiuient shoots will not annually extend more than a few inclms, and 1
produeed than tliose which tlie buds contain before they unfold. 'ITie yoi
elongate very early in tho season, ami t lienee aciiuires periect maturity; «
th e wall, it is secure, or nearly so, IVom injury by tho severest Irost. Ih e
dnetivo yonng wood thus necessarily becomes very great, relatively to the e
being in contact wltli the wall, ami not shaded by excess of foliage, acquires ii
V / e nibbing oir, as soon as they can hediscoyered by the naked eye,
all the ligs which are produci’.l after midsumnmr on tlm same year’s slioots. The object is not only to
prevent those ligs whicli would never ripen without artillcial liea(; from exhausting the tree, lint to give
It suilicient time to employ tho strength wliich would have been wasted in nourishing Lluise nmum-
brauces,” in tlm preparation of new embryo (igs tor tlm followingyear. ll tins operation, lu.says,_
performed in dim tiiius it will not (ail to prepare on ono, and olti-n o"
hoth side.s, of almost every Ilg so
displaced, such embryos. For this purpose, tho trees should ho oxani:
odoncoawoek, from tlm beginning
o f August,atwhiehtimotlmngsofthissoeomloropusuallyhegintoslm. Ummselves; ... and .
thisoxaminatio
must 1)(' repi'ated as long as any eontinue to inako their appearance. Most gardeners, ho says, omit
removing these late flgs a t all. or delay tlm praetieetill Octobe
or Novemhc
from it.” He trains tlm trees horizontally, and does not pr
line them till late
plainly distinguish between a leaf-bud and a frnlt-lnu , and cuscoyeT tim wnoie oi uie nusen.ei occasm.m,.
bytlmfrostsol the preceding winter. ( I lo r l. T m n s ., vol.iv. ]).4,10.) 1 he aluive practice, m eonncc tion with
tlm mode of training roeommeiided by Knight, would, we think, eilect an important nnpnivoiimnt in tho
c u ltu re o f this frnit. Wickham’s mode appears to excito too much tlm powers of Urn tie e ; and tin.
common mode of lun.training from three or four root-stems, wliieh are in lact so many .suekers, is on y
caleiilated to produce wood and leaves. Training the lig tree on walls, as a rider, and, m the stellate
manner {fig . 7‘22. c), and pinching oil' all tlm embryo fruit al’ter midsnmmer, wmiUl probably ellcct every
hat can be desired In. tlm culture o fth is tree on the o]mn wall in tins equnlry.
8,” lie says,
lo benelit is derived
1 the ipring, when Im can
ng Llui
4787. P a -t considers that the (ig reipiireH a plentiful supply of water di
swell the fruit to a siKlieient size. Hegrows this tree against a wall 14 ft. liigli,
This coping adds to the ’l ai•n . .. - • and i
altering during th e spring i
o fth e fruit in August, Heiitemlm
■iiig summer, in ordi'r to
ll a coping whicli projects
nor months, but by pre-
id October.
venting radiation it promotes tlie rijmning of the fnilt m i.ei)ieimmr, ana weuiuer.
4788. Pro/rctiiiL' </un>iL' w in te r . This is found necessary m many narts ql 1' ranee, and evoi ywlnire in
Britain. Miller recommeiuls tying together tlm brandies <i( standards, and applying jieas-haiilm, straw,
or any otlicr light covering, ami placing rolls of reeds on each side ol espa lors ; removmg those
in mild weather, to prevent tho iigs from eomiiig out too early. Forsytli covers lig trees against walls
weaumi,m iiicvi iii. m<j ■■h«' iv»......« "•••■ — .■ ...j-- j - ........- - « ,
witli “ laurel, yew. Hr, or spruce boughs,” and tlmn “ tucks m short grass or moss among the hranche
Smitli covers witli s|.riice lir branches, from 1 ft. to (i ft. long, lastimlng them tq the wa 1 hy tlm inul.i e
rib of the branches. In two difi’erent places. “ To prevent any Inetiou hy tlm wind, Urn brandies should
he made to (It eacli other, so that tlm covering may he of a regular tlm'kness over every part ol the
trees. As the covering is generally put on tlm trees m tho month ol December, the hrandies remain
green all the w in te r; in tlm month of March, wimn tlm days get long, the leaves begin to drop iroin the
hrandies. and eentiime falling througli Ap ril; and by the beginning ol May, when the covenng iseni; rely
removed, only tlie riba of tlio braimlms are found remammg. Tlms, the ijrogress ol t m seasoi eiliiees
tlm coverings ill a gradual mamiev, so as not to exnose the trees to any sudden check, which migiit be tho
c a s e , i f th e y w e r e a ll a t o n e o la id o p e n to th e w e a t h e r . ” „ . ,
4789. A’/ueycr. in November, detaches the brandioa of his Iig trees Irom tlie wal a, pmks off a l the
autumnal friiit that are larger than a lilbert, or not of a dark sliining green : he tlien ties tlm brandies oi
tlm tree together in bniulles, forming a sort of eone. liUmg tlm nUerstiees with dry hay, and wrapping
mats round tiie whole. After this lie lowers the cones to llu' right and left, and makes them last to tlus
wall with rope yarn. In this state they remain till March, wlmn tlm whole is undone, and the hraiiches
replaced aiul covered first with treble, tlien double, and lastly single netting, which last Is removed in
47‘)(l. Mean { Ilo r t. T ra n s ., vol. ii.) adopted the I'reiieh mode of burying the brandies in tlie soil, iu
1789, and lia.s prncti.sed it with success ever since. , ^
4791. Wickham observes { I h r t . T ra n s ., vol. iii. p. 80.). in reapoct to covering ig treqi
, that ‘
mnst be left to the care and skill of the gardener, wlmse precautions n u i^ be determineii,
varied bv the situation, aspect, and local shelter belonging to each particular tree, and by Ui
temiioratiire of each particular w in te r: it may, however, be laid down as a general rule, that tlm cqvenug
where used, should bo ns thin and light as a itue considi'ration of all tlm above cireumstanees will admit
ami tliat it should generally he removed in tlm day-time, and always on the re tnni <)t moderate weatlmr.
47i)2. protects the brandies of Ilg trees during winter, by wrapping stniis ol old newspapeiround
tliem; and afterwards attaching the brandies to the wall. This covering is removed towi
41 as
■ying
rds tim
iving I
latti'r end of April. The branches are previously loosened and pruned, to reduce t() a mmiir
qnaiitity of paper and labour required, I’rinted paper is preferred to plain paper, because li
considenible portion of its .surface covered with tbe oil of tlm ink, it. does not readi y imbibe mo:
4791. P car.wu employs spruee fir branches, sticking tliem in m November, and leaving them till tli
leaves drop off of themselves in tlm beginning of May; but it has been ascertained during tlm late sevei
winters, tliat straw is tlm most dleetiial covering,
4794. Jti/ic•iiing th thc^ e f r u i t .
Williams
tlm lower part of tlie branches braiu
of tlm
might accelerate tli
inatnrlty of the
the fig tn “
{ I h n . T\
tlm flg.
ists that tlm practice of taking o fl'ad ren la r ring of bark from
fig,''in tlm manner ho lias so sncce.ssfnily practised on the vino,
fruit. Monck tried ringing, and Ibuiul that it may he practised on
itii “ as mudi safety, and more effect upon tlm age of its tVnit, than on tlie pear tre e .’’
.. vol. v. p. 172.) In Italy, a wound with a knife is sometimes made on tlm broad end ol
, r y , .m , .U , , , r t t a t l t a « l u n t a t l , o lV , . l t r o ; n o v c d ^
irimfort observes {Tra.vel.s,
times iniplied, either hy a pimctnre on Um side of tlm frnit witli a bodkii
droi.ping a small quantity in tlio eye of tlie fruit. “ IMnms and pears ” J
letter viii.), “ pricked by insects, ripen the faster for it, and the flesh roi
......................... d siidi puncture is better
tasted than th an 'th the ê rest. lYisréiAuo’lie It fs not to be liispnted ilispnted but th a t eonsiderablo considerable change
liaiipensto tlu: comextnre of
fruits so 80 pricked, ju st the same as to parts of animals pierced with any sliar]sharp
instrument. Moi
a fig froin from the eye to tlie stalk, and found it ripen six v....
weeks bolbro others i
yVwM' vol. V. p. 17 2 .) At Argentcuil, Uie maturity of tlm latest ligs is hastened by p
of oil into the eye of eadi fruit. Tliis is <lone liy a woman, wlio lias a phial ol oil i
waist aud a piece of hollow ryo-straw in her hand ; Uiis slie dips into Um oil, und a
Urn eye o fth e frnit, in Um manner deserilied at length in d a r d . Ma g ., vol. vii. p. 2b
figs by this method Is practised in other parts of France.
Uiat were imtonclmd. {H a rt.
ttin g a single drop
ispendcd from hor
afterwards aiiplies to
T’he ripening of
4795. The process <f ca p r fic a tiim ( f Jigs is performed in the l.evant to hasten the maturity o f th e
autumnal cron, and consists in jilacing on tlie fig trees what are called Jigvcs-Jteurs, or spring flgs, in
wliicli a certain Insect of tlie gnat species ( i ’lMex L .) ha.s deposited Its eggs. From these eggs, in the
spring figs, proceed a miiltitnde of gnats, which, in thoir tu rn , deposit their eggs in Um antiunn figs, or
ra the r in thcir (lowers, effecting in tlieir jiassage tlm fecundation of tlieso (lowers, and, in consequence,
hastening tho maturity o fth e fruit. TTie most enlightened F'reneli naturalists arc of opinion that this
:ry inmoecssary part of tlm cultnre of tlm iig. Olivier, member of the Institute, and author of a
y through the Ottoman Em p ire , considers it as “ a tribute whicli man pays to ignorance and pre-
*’ “ In many emmtrics of tlm Levant,” he says, “ it is not performed, nor is It done in France,
>r .Sjiain ; and it is now neglected in some o fth e isles of the Arehinelago, where it was practised
ii
Jo u rn ,
jiidioe
Italy, i
....... .ly .” Bosc says, “ tlm larva of the CJiiips, in eating the interior oit tlu: flgs, can be no oUmrwiso
usefni than Um larva of the Tyrale pommonelle of Hiilinor (PhaUe'na L . ) , or apple-worm, can be iu
hastening the maturity of the apple : and who wonld take it upon him to advi; ’ '
eaten in order to enjoy the advantage of eating them a fortnight sooner?”
oli.served, rather conllniiB the idea that cajirlfieation hastens maturity, wliicli
in the neiglibourhood of Rome, Naples, and at Argenteuil, wo believe to be th
with Olivier, tliat it is hy no moans absolutely necessary to fecundation;
feeimilation is not e8.sontlally requisite to tlic swelling and ripening of Um fig.
479(1. The cu ltu r e o f the Jig tree in pots is very generally practised hy such as havo forclng-lionsos. Cuttings
nderliig apples w
T’liis remark, it may be
. from what wc have seen
! ca.sc; we agree, however,
•nd even if it wore, that
may be jmt In in March in pots of a small size, and plungi'd In lie a t; in the first season such cuttings
will freiiiiently jirodimo one or two fruit, and tliere ean be little doubt tliat, if long branches wen
coiled into pots or boxes, In Mr. Mearns’s manner (§ 4757.), they would produce considerable crops tlu
lirst season. Wo liave already (§ .1‘2‘22.) given in detail the ordinary iiractiee of forcing the (ig in pots.
4797. Monck has made some eiiriims experiments and observations
on tliis subject, from which lie Is led to eonjeeinre, 1.
T’hat lig trees never bear figs wliicli contain hotli kinds of florets
in an ollicient s ta te ; 2. T h a t figs in whicli tlm anther-bearing
florets only are perfect, never come to be eatable fr u it; 1. T’liat
you may pronounce, frmn the external sluqm of a Ilg, which
kind of floret prevails — the stigma-bearing in tlie pear-shaped
C//g. 821. rt), the anther-bearing in tlie squat figs (A) ; 4. That
ng trees, whicli put forth crops of figs, and cast them, most probably
do so from defect of setting. {U o rt. T ra n s ., vol.v. pp.
im , 1(!9.)
4798. Insects a n d Diseases. Tlie Ilg is subject to few of oitlmr
of these in this eoimtry. In Ibreiiig-lionses it Is liable, in coin-
mon with other phmts, to the attacks of tlu: red spider, eoeens,
and aiiliidi's, aiul occasionally also on garden-walls. The remedies arc obvious. In France fig trees a r
attacked hy a species of coccus, vulgarly calleil tlio fig-Iouse, which proves very injurious, and is only ti
he destroyed by rubbing it oil’with a coarse cloth.
S u b s e c t . 4. M e lon . — Oucnmi.<i M ilo L.; M o n a id a M o n a iU l. L. and Cm nrhiiacca. J.
M e lo n , Pr.; M e h n e , Gcr.; Meleon, J)u.; M ellone, Ital.; and M e lon , Si)aii.
4799. The melon is a tender ftjiimal, producing one of tlic richest fruits brought to tho
dessert, and cultivated in Enghmd since 1570 ; hut the jirceiso time of its introduction
and the native country of Ihc plant arc hoth unknown. It was originally brought here
from Jamaica, and was, till the time of Miller, called the musk melon. The frnit, to
he grown to perfection, rc(iuires the aid of avtiiieial heat and glass, thi’onghout every
stage of its culture. Its minimum temperature may be estimated at (i5°, in which it
will germinate and grow ; but it rciiuircs a lieat of Irom 75° to 80° to ri[)cn its fruit,
which, in ordinary cases, it dues in four months from the time of sowing the seed.
4800. Varieties. There arc numerous varieties, many of which, especially thoso raised from seeds
brought from Italy and Spain, are not worth cultivaling. The sorts most generally cultivated in Britain
are Included under tlio name of cantaloups, an appellation bestowed on tliem from a seat of the Pope
near Rome, whore this variety Is supposed to liave been originally iirodiiced. Tliero are also a numher
of varieties of Persian melon, whieh nro very highly esteemed ; and somo ciiltlvato the wintiT melon,
and tho wator melon, tho la.st of which is a distinet genus (6’ucVirbita). The varieties of tho melon, like
thoso of most other annua! fruits in general cultivation, are continually changing ; and the sort.s which
may bo faslilonahlo ut ono period, may be known only historically at another. T'he following list wa.s
taken from L in d le y 's Guide, but it ha.s been corrected and brought down to tlu: present time.
I. SUMMKK Miei.ONfl,
t. JITVA re d jka h anti Ihiek rii
1. n ia r k i-o r k : fru it very largo ;
irZ.
liirg<> kiu>ba u
Hutch rock :
loluui
.kin of
K y<4-
vorcd wllli
; llo>1i c>fn
right fruni
being go u o r^ly ¡r;
éoáriV'ré'.niiT/ »khTwl'i
lilolchod with dark.
<10011
E a r ly Polian,
sjihorlcftl, ft In. or (lli
a dm ninck
; tho wolglit
IbH. toHlliH.
imall, ribliod,
ill groen,
on; IIohIi
w' . .i'dry, of uroUy good
olghl from 2 lu». lo -( IbH.
.............il<ldlo-M/.od,
In •llni
Hkln i>iuo
IIohIi 1 [ I i
aalm
colour, veil f
•ocl.
rt ritlyc: f ru it r a th e r »mall,
ul, doirronHOil, Btniiigly rlhbod,
iu la rly warted all over ft»»urlaeo;
.lull yellow, molMed with dull
gnren ; lle»h 1 lu. Ililok, h rlg h t
u.l well (la-
. M eloutkaaarm<\i: ft-uit olilo
iK-rlug io caci) end, Klu. in d i
111 die iiihiaie, and 12 In. loii)
ig, la
,
moUlerl with <lark
Imoii-eolour,
■t ju ley , bu t
b rig h t orange,green ; lleiih j'li
2 in. tliiek, teixl.
»weet an d good-lh
7. MonlntiuccanlnUni}): f ru i t«i.nmthneH
rouiul, »omeltmoH oval, ab o u t .ft In.
Ill dlamo te r; »kin grei-uUli while,
n e tte d ; IIohIi 1^ In. tlilek. red, hut
n e t lilgli-eeloured, »oft, ju iey , »wool,
and delleat.L
8. Netted cantaloim, Whllo-»oe<l(rd can-
ta1ou|ii fru it round anil ra th e r »mali;
»kin naie green, very clonoly rolleu-
Inted ; IIohIi d a rk rod.lUli orango,
with a rleh »ugarv juice.
0. NcUcd mircada: f ru i t mlddle-»lzod.
Homewliai ribbed ; »Idii d u ll luUe
green, very cIohoIv covered with rn-
tleiilatlon» ; llosh deep orange colour,
firm au.l hlgh-llavoure.l,
10. Omjign cnntaluui) : f ru it bolow Ilio
mid.iloHlze, round ; hUIi. pale yoll.iw,
becoming .looper eoloure.l when
ripe, au.l a llu le nottod on lt> Hurfaeo;
lloHh deep orange-red. ju iey . «ugiiry,
an.l extremely lilg h llavoured.
ru lt mlddlo-Hlzed, oval,
ih.-d; skin pale yellow,
................onll»Hiii-faeo; IIohIu I.'.-p
dlow, llrin, au.l well havoure.l,
. S l i :•let rock : ft-uit ohlal.% deeply
1-IIiIk
imi 71,.;
(Ham nklii pale gi'eeii i
with d a rk g re e n ; IIohIi of a reddlnh
»alm.m-eolour, tender, ju iey , sweet,
au.l hlgli-fliivoured.
13. Silner rock: tViilt mid.lle-sl-zed, oh.
late, about ft In. each way; »kin green-
l»li yollow, with a few »mall warts
■ igo-e.donred hlotelu-»; II.-hIi
imle
■Oil.
(weet, 1.1 \ elt
ah out ft lu. In d iai
IhIi yellow, »potted witli
II. lYith green flesh a nd m oderately thick
rind.
JG, (/reen-JIeshed : IVult
pale «livery
fli'Kli green
lilgh-flavou
1, »lightly nett.
-ed ; welgli
very execlli
n-ßeshed :
tVoiii 2 lbs.
neloi
IVvil
mil.
.................................. t-liU.-
I) d iam e te r; »Kin )>alo greeiii»1i
d ille ; IIohU .lark groen, h u t pair
.HVHI-.U Ilio itiHi.lo ii.'xl Ihe see.lH.
bout I lu. thick, soft, juicy, iory
t
!l:: il
I ('
toi'ré.