AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 13 
FIG (Ficus Carica). The Fig, as a fruit-producing tree, 
has been cultivated from remote antiquity. To say 
nothing of America and the countries of the Southern 
hemisphere, the cultivation of the Fig must be very 
ancient, and is now general from the islands of the 
North Atlantic eastward, through the warm temperate 
and sub-tropical regions eastward to China, where, on 
the authority of Dr. Bretschneider, it was carried on, 
at all events, as early as the latter part of the four- 
teenth century. According to various authorities, it is 
a native of the Mediterranean region, Syria, Eastern 
Persia, to Afghanistan. It has become naturalised in 
South-west France, &c. The exact date of its introduc- 
tion into Britain remains in obscurity; and, like the Vine, 
in all probability, it disappeared from Britain for a time. 
According to Pliny, it was largely cultivated by the 
Romans, who were possessed of a number of different 
sorts prior to the Christian era. The re-introduction of 
the Fig is said to have taken place in 1525, when Car- 
dinal Pole brought several trees from Italy, and planted 
them in the gardens of the Archbishop’s Palace at Lam- 
beth. Another celebrated tree was introduced from 
Aleppo, in 1648, by Dr. Pocock, the eminent traveller, 
Fic. 14. FRUITING BRANCH OF Fic. 
and placed garden of the Regius Professor of 
Hebrew, — — — In 1809, it was con- 
other times, the points of the shoots are destroyed by frost 
less severe. The fresh fruit does not find general favour 
in this country, partly because successful culture involves 
rally necessary situation is a wall with a south or south- 
west aspect; but in places where the summers are hot, 
and very sharp frosts of rare occurrence, Fig-trees may 
be grown as espaliers, being easily protected in winter 
Ge cocnsionally “sestiloted 
Fig—continued. 
as much as would be required. The Fig possesses the 
extraordinary property of producing two, and, in some 
Mes under most favourable conditions, three crops in 
a year. The fruit supply being thus extended over such 
a lengthened period, becomes to. the people of the East, 
where the trees are much grown, an important source of 
food, both in a fresh and in a dried state. The annual 
importation to this country alone of some hundreds 
of tons of dried Figs, is an indication of the quantity 
cultivated, and the crops secured. The same article also 
forms one of considerable commerce in Italy, Spain, 
Provence, and in some parts of France. 
As it is not generally understood, it may be interest- 
ing to state here that the flowers of the Fig are unisexual, 
and produced in large quantities inside a fleshy receptacle 
that is closely united and almost closed at the summit. 
The female’ flowers are most numerous, and situated on 
the bottom and greater part of the inside of the receptacle. 
On these becoming fertilised—a condition not absolute 
essential with all for the ripening of the frui 
becomes a seed, which is surrounded with pulp, and 
these, with the receptacle, form the fruit as —— in 
Fig. 14. An idea of the enormous quani of 
— ya ar ethan ~~ 
examining an imported dried specimen. 
———— This is easily effected is ae 
various ways — seed, cuttings, layers, and — 
Seed. this method is not 
much practised, but is sometimes adopted with 
possible, as on this 
taken in obtaining the first fruit. ——— 
Cuttings, &c. rt. 
jointed growths of the previous year, from 6in. 
to 9in. in length; if with a | i 
better. They may be 
tached from the —— Suckers are freely produced 
where allowed, and may also be grown into plants; 
but, on account of the > ae in these being invariably 
very soft, they are inferior to those grown either from 
cuttings or layers. Grafting is practicable if desired, 
the scions being cut in autumn, laid in the ground all 
winter, and inserted, soon after the stock commences — 
its growth, in spring. Figs being so easily increased 
by the other means above named, this method is but 
little adopted. 
Curtivation. The Fig will grow in almost any soil; ; 
but if too rich, the chances are that a great pro- 
duction of wood and not much fruit will be the result, 
sme olhar monas such a a marro wal vio se os 
