insuring at intervals in every part of the tree a supply of young wood to succeed the extreme leaders. When the trees have attained their full size, these leaders should be cut out annually, in the winter pruning, in order to make room for the next succeeding branches. By this means the tree will always be kept within its proper limits, and possess strength and vigour to support and mature a heavy and abundant crop. Other particulars will be found where the Morello Cherry is described.

The Currants most deserving of cultivation are the following:

1. BLACK NAPLES. Pom. Mag. t. 43.

The superiority of this consists, not only in the larger size of the fruit, but in the clusters being more numerous on the bushes, as well as in each cluster bearing a greater number of berries. Cultivated in the Horticultural Garden at Chiswick.

2. COMMON BLACK. Eng. Bot. t. 1291.

3. CHAMPAGNE, with pale red fruit.

4. LARGE RED, or RED DUTCH.

5. WHITE CHRYSTAL, with white fruit and large bunches.

6. WHITE DUTCH, with yellow fruit and footstalks. The nurserymen's catalogues contain other names, some of which are probably a repetition of the same fruit. There are indeed several worthless varieties of the Red Currant to be found in gardens, which ought to be rooted up, and replaced by the larger fruited. Where the currant is cultivated for the purpose of making wine, the White Dutch is to be preferred, as it is by far

the sweetest and it is also superior in the dessert; but its bunches are not so large as those of the White Chrystal.

When it is grown for the dessert, the size of the bunches should be increased to the utmost extent of which they are capable. This can only be accomplished by management. Where bushes are injudiciously planted, and where they are suffered to become mossy and crowded with branches, the bunches are always small, and the fruit inferior in quality. On the contrary, where bushes are advantageously planted, and have plenty of room; pruned annually, divesting them of their old spurs, removing the young ones where they are too numerous, and keeping them thin of branches so as to admit plenty of sun and air, the bunches will be larger, and the fruit superior in size and flavour, in proportion to the care and judgment bestowed upon their manage

ment.

Propagation.

Currants are propagated by cuttings only, where good and handsome bushes are required; for this purpose, strong vigorous young shoots should be selected, which are straight, and about twelve inches of the lowest part of each made use of. The eyes from six or eight inches of each cutting should be cut out previously to planting, which will prevent suckers from being thrown up from the roots. When they have been two years in the nursery-bed, and have formed heads of four or five shoots, they may be planted where they are intended to remain, taking care to have a stem of eight inches, clear above ground, to each plant.

see.

Its cultivation is the same as the Gooseberry, which

M

CHAP. VI.

FIGS.

SECT. I.- Fruit blue or black.

1. BLACK GENOA. Miller, No. 2.

Fruit long, swelling pretty large at the apex, where it is rather obtuse: the lower part is very slender next the stalk. Skin of a dark purple colour, almost black, covered with a purple bloom. Pulp bright red and highly flavoured.

Ripe in August.

2. BLACK ISCHIA. Miller, No. 5.

Fruit middle-sized, round, a little flattened at the apex. Skin almost black when ripe.

and very highly flavoured.

Ripe in August.

Pulp deep red,

This is a very productive fig; but the birds are great devourers of it, if the fruit is not protected.

3. BLACK ITALIAN. Forsyth, Ed. 7. No. 9.

Fruit small and round.

Pulp very delicious. An abundant bearer in pots. Mr. Forsyth, from whom this is taken, says he has gathered from one plant, in a twenty-four pot, two dozen figs at one gathering.

4. LARGE BLUE. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 11. Common Blue or Purple. Miller, No. 10.

Large Purple. Nurs. Catalogues.

Fruit large, oblong. Skin purple, or dark brown, covered with a thick blue bloom. Pulp deep red, of a very good flavour.

Ripe in August.

This is a very hardy sort, and a most excellent bearer.

5. SMALL BLUE. Hort. Soc. Cat. 12. Little Blue. Hanbury.

Fruit below the middle size, with a short footstalk. Skin blue, thin. Pulp red, of very good flavour. Ripe in August.

6. BOURDEAUX. Duhamel, t. 2. f. 2.
Figue-Poire. Ib. Vol. i.
Ib. Vol. i. p. 213.

Violette de Bourdeaux. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 70. Fruit pretty long, of a pyramidal figure, rounded at the apex, and a little pinched in towards the stalk, about three inches long, and two inches in diameter. Skin brownish red, becoming deep violet when fully matured, slightly mottled with a few greenish specks. Pulp deep red or purple, succulent and sweet.

This is cultivated throughout France, and produces two crops annually, both of which in a warm season are good, although not possessing very high flavour.

7. BROWN TURKEY. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 64. Brown Italian. Forsyth, Ed. 7. No. 9.

Fruit small and round. Pulp very delicious.

This and the Black Italian are mentioned by Mr. Forsyth, as being cultivated by him in pots, and each possessing equal merit.

8. BRUNSWICK. Pom. Mag. t. 48.

Madonna. Miller, 9.

Hanover. Of some Gardens, according to the Pom. Mag.

Fruit very large, obovate, fleshy, with an oblique apex. Eye rather depressed. Stalk short and thick. Skin pale green on the shaded side, with a tinge of yellow; next the sun, dull brownish red, sprinkled with small pale brown specks. Flesh pinkish in the interior,