COMMON FIG-TREE. 473 



but slight remains of the old trunk to be seen, which had thrown out a number 

 of branches, perhaps of twenty or thirty years' growth, and upwards of twenty- 

 five feet in length. Tiie fig-tree, though introduced so early, appears for a long 

 time, not to have been extensively cnhivated in England, which is thought by 

 Professor Burnet to be owing to a popular prejudice that existed against this 

 tree, as once having been a common vehicle for poison, a singular contrast to 

 the ideas expressed in "Holy Writ" respecting this fruit; the best blessing of 

 heaven being typified by 



"Every man sitting under his own fig-tree." 



The fig is in general cultivation in first rate Britisli gardens, usually against 

 walls; but in some parts of the southern counties, as along the coast of .Sussex, 

 and in Devonshire, &c., it is propagated as a standard. In Scotland, it is never 

 grown as a standard; but, in some parts of East Lothian, and in Wigtonshire, it 

 ripens its fruit against a south wall, without the aid of artificial heat. 



The largest fig-tree, as a wall fruit, in England, is at Farnham Castle, where, 

 in twenty-five years after planting, it had attained the height of forty feet. 



The largest standard tree of tliis species in England, is at Arundel Castle, 

 in Sussex, and exceeds twenty-five feet in height, with a trunk a foot in diam- 

 eter. 



In France, tlie culture of the fig-tree was not carried to any degree of perfec- 

 tion till the time of Olivier de Serres; but it is now general throughout the whole 

 country. In the southern departments, its fruit is grown for drying, as an arti- 

 cle of commerce, but in the northern districts, it is only used for the table. In 

 the neighbourhood of Nantes, the tree, as a standard, seldom exceeds eighteen feet 

 in height; but at Avignon, it attains an elevation of twenty or twenty-five feet. 



In Italy, at Monza, there is a fig-tree, which, in sixty years after planting, had 

 attained the height of thirty feet, with a trunk eighteen inches in diameter, and 

 an atnbitus of sixty feet. 



In the east, as well as in Italy and Spain, the fig forms a considerable article 

 of commerce, as well as a considerable part of the sustenance of the population. 



In the southern states of the American union, the fig-tree is planted as a stand- 

 ard, and produces fruit of an excellent quality. In the middle and northern states 

 it is propagated as a conservatory or wall tree, and necessarily requires protec- 

 tion during winter. 



Mythological and Legendary Allusions. The Egyptians and Greeks held the 

 fruit of this tree in great estimation ; it being the custom to carry a basket of figs 

 next to the vessel of wine used in the Dionysia, or festival in honour of Bacchus. 

 The Romans, also, carried the fig next to the wine, in their processions, in hon- 

 our of the same god, as a patron of joy and plenty; and Bacchus Avas supposed 

 by them, to have derived his corpulency and vigour from this fruit, and not the 

 grape. Saturn, one of the Roman deities, was represented crowned with new 

 figs; he being supposed to have first taught the use of agriculture in Italy. 

 There was a temple in Rome, dedicated to this god, before which grew a large 

 fig-tree. The fig is related to have been the favourite fruit of Cleopatra: and 

 the asp, with which she terminated her life, was conveyed to hor in a basket of 

 figs. The story of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a wolf tinder a lig-tree, 

 is familiar to every one conversant in ancient history. Timon, of Athens, who 

 was called Misanthrope, from his aversion to mankind and all society, once went 

 into a public place, where his appearance, as an orator, soon collected a large 

 assembly, when he addressed his countrymen, by informing them that he had a 

 fig-tree in his garden, on which many of the citizens had ended their lives with 

 a halter; and that, as he was going to cut it down, he advised all those that were 

 inclined to leave the world, to hasten to his garden and hang themselves. It 



