THE FRUITS AI\D FRUIT TREES OF MOROCCO. 



177 



have fallen from the tree, which usually takes 

 place in August. 



Fig. 5i.—Bluck Fig. 



The fig tree grows to a large size in this 

 country ; some which I have seen I should 

 judge to be nearly two feet in the diameter of 

 the trunk ; they do not grow very high, and 

 the long, slim, drooping and spangling branch- 

 es often sweep the ground on all sides ; the 

 leaves are very large ; often measuring a foot 

 in diameter. Some of the trees are barren 

 and unproductive, and remind us of the " bar- 

 ren fig tree " spoken of by our Saviour. The 

 growth of the fig is rather slow, but it lives to 

 a great age in this country — some that I have 

 seen, appear to be over a century old. They 

 seem a very hardy tree, and I do not under- 

 stand why they might not be cultivated in 

 some of the Northern States of the Union ; 

 although, if I recollect aright, there are few, 



if any, reared successfully north of Virginia. 

 Fine, fresh figs may be bought here during 

 the season, for about three cents a dozen. 

 Very many of the Moorish and Jewish houses 

 in the town have large branching trees grow- 

 ing up in the centre of their patios or courts, 

 which furnish a most cooling shade, as well as 

 delicious fruit. They also give to the town, 

 as you look down upon it from some lofty tow- 

 er or observatory, quite a rural and pictur- 

 esque appearance — and aff'ord a great relief to 

 the eye from the dazzling and almost blinding 

 efiiects of the snowy white, with which nearly 

 every house is colored. 



The Pine Apple and Banana. — Of 

 these delicious fruits, there are but few culti- 

 vated, that I am aware of, in this Empire. A 

 few plants of the latter are to be found in the 

 beautiful gardens of the Swedish Consul Gen- 

 eral, just outside of the town, and they appear 

 thrifty and fruitful. And the Pine Apple, I 

 have no doubt, would grow here in perfection, 

 if it were but introduced. 



The Vine. — The Grape grows here spon- 

 taneously, and is cultivated largely and suc- 

 cessfully in the various gardens and vineyards 

 which abound in the vicinity of the large towns 

 and villages. Although comparatively little 

 pains seem to have been taken to obtain the 

 finer qualities, yet I have eaten of a number 

 of varieties here, that are little, if any, infe- 

 rior to the best Malaga, Muscatells or Blooms. 

 Both of these superior kinds of grape are to 

 be found here, as well as many other excellent 

 varieties scarcely inferior to them in quality — 

 in fact, I think that some of the smaller white 

 grapes, excel, in their rich, musky flavor, and 

 in melting juiciness, those far-famed and just- 

 ly favorite varieties, although they are not as 

 large and beautiful. Many of these choice 

 varieties are, I doubt not, indigenous and pe- 

 culiar to this country, but are without any ap- 

 propriate name. Many of the black ones, al- 

 though of a sweet, pleasant flavor, are too 



