AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 11 
FICUS (the old Latin name, akin to the Greek sfukon 
or sukon, a fig; the Fig-tree has nearly the same name in 
all the European languages). Fig-tree. . ORD. Urticacee. 
An extensive genus of usually stove or greenhouse trees 
or shrubs. Flowers monecions, inserted upon the interior 
surface of a hollow, globular or pear-shaped fleshy recep- 
tacle, in whose tip is an orifice closed with small scales; 
those in the upper part male, the rest female. Very 
ornamental plants, of easy culture. They are readily 
propagated by cuttings or eyes, having a leaf attached 
in the case of the evergreen species, inserted in a 
close frame inside a propagating house, in early spring. 
Ficus—continued. 
small pot. It succeeds well in a greenhouse, and also 
outside in summer. Any of the species of Ficus do well 
in sandy loam, with the addition of a little leaf soil, and 
only small pots, in comparison to the size of plant, need 
be used. Plenty of syringing, or occasional sponging, will 
keep the leaves clean, and almost any amount of water 
may be applied to the roots. The species .which grow 
on walls are the best of inside plants that could be used 
for the purpose, as, once started, they soon cover a con- 
siderable space and always present a lively green appear- 
ance. For culture of F. Carica, see Fig. 
Fig. 12. TERMINAL SHOOT OF FICUS EXSCULPTA. 
F. elastica is one of the most ornamental and extensively- 
grown species, and a plant that withstands confinement 
in rooms better, perhaps, than any other. It is also 
well adapted for stove or greenhouse decoration, and for 
sub-tropical gardening in summer outside. Shoots 1ft. 
long, if furnished with leaves, soon root, and form useful 
plants much quicker than eyes, which, however, have the 
advantage of increasing a much larger quantity. Small 
specimens are most attractive when restricted to a single 
stem. These may be afterwards grown into tall branched 
plants if desired, by keeping them several years and pinch- 
ing out the points. F. Chawviert is a fine species that 
forms a large bush, even when grown in a comparatively 
F. acuminata (sharp-pointed). fl., perianth three-cleft or three- 
partite, with the segments lanceolate and acuminated. Recep- 
tacle solitary, axillary, globose, pendent, of a deep bright 
orange colour, somewhat mealy and tuberculated on the surface, 
and terminating a stalk longer than itself. l. 4in. or Sin. long, 
somewhat coriaceous, elliptical, petiolated, veiny, glabrous above, 
and full green, downy beneath, with the veins prominent. Stem 
(under cultivation in this country) 5ft. to 6ft. high. Silhet, 1833. 
(B. M. 3282.) 
. barbata (bearded).* J. dark green, cordate, about 3in. long; 
— ed: edges clothed with long brown hairs. East 
Indies, 1 handsome plant for covering the walls of 
stoves ; it has a creeping and rooting habit, similar to Ivy. 
. ben: Benjamin-tree. Receptacles solitary, or in pairs, 
— r, about żin. in diameter when ripe. J. ovate, or ovate- 
oblong, acuminate, shortly stalked, 2in. to 4in. long, entire, 
