ON THE CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. 209 



decided, that is whether these figs are true species distinct from 

 each other and from all others, or whether all the domestic figs are 

 but varieties of one species. If we could decide for the first alter- 

 native, there would be no need of further argument, as it is natural 

 that different species distinguished by external characters should 

 also have different constitutions. But I will admit, although I am 

 not convinced, that all our figs are varieties of one species. The 

 varieties raised from seed are numerous, and in some plants 

 infinite in some respects ; but that which has now to be noticed 

 as more especially relevant to the present question, is that some- 

 times the constitution is altered, so that some varieties arise 

 which feel certain influences more or less than the natural or 

 primitive type from whence they proceed. For in a wood of 

 chesnuts or oaks we often see variations from one individual to 

 another. By this I mean to say that the White and the Dottato 

 Figs, whether you consider them as species or as mere varieties, 

 cannot be denied to have been endowed by nature with a power 

 of carrying nearly all their fruits. But difference in habit, how- 

 ever slight, is usually indicated by external characters or signs ; 

 and these, caused themselves by tlie diversity of habit, are again 

 the causes of other differences. So the White and the Dottato 

 Figs are the strongest and most vigorous of all those to be found 

 in the neighbourhood of Naples, and thrive in any soil. Their 

 leaves are large, not much divided, coai'se, especially those of 

 the Dottato, and support well the vicissitudes of the seasons ; 

 and the leaf is the mother and nurse of the fruit. Vegetation in 

 these varieties usually proceeds regularly as they shoot in March ; 

 they set no early flowers, and the shoots are not slender, unequal, 

 nor attenuated, but thicken and lengthen moderately ; the fruits 

 grow regularly from the base upwards, and in the order of their 

 age ; they are moreover of a fair size, well proportioned, and, 

 though not few in numbers, are not crowded so as to interfere 

 with each other's nutriment. All these circumstances together 

 produce, according to my opinion, the above effect ; and the 

 proof is clear on seeing what are the effects produced when from 

 the vicissitudes of the season or other causes the leaves suffer ; 

 or when, the sap being irregularly distributed, the branches 

 lengthen immoderately, and produce a great deal of wood. Then 

 the trees lose many fruits, but always less than other varieties, 

 being supported by their intrinsic qualities. 



§ 16. For what reason does the Lardaro fig lose the greater 

 part of its fruits ? 



The circumstances stated under the two last heads explain 

 readily the case of the Lardaro. This variety, though coarse in 

 appearance, suffers by nature much from clianges in temperature 

 and from moisture in the atmosphere; and, if the moisture is 



