The Sycamore Fig in Egypt 



11 



the work of cutting and harvesting 

 continues until the month of November. 

 Fruit which is not operated upon con- 

 tinues its growth and its inner surface 

 becomes covered with expanded flower 

 cells containing the young insects or 

 cells from which the insects have 

 escaped. Figs in this state are known 

 as "badh." Needless to say they are 

 disagi-eeable to eat. When the young 

 fruit is opened in the manner described 

 above, the influence of the air causes 

 the flowers inside to dry and form a 

 compact mass, in which the insects 

 cannot lay their eggs. The drying 

 effect of the air also stops the develop- 

 ment of any eggs which may have been 

 deposited previously. The presence of 

 the fluid which is secreted in the interior 

 of the fig is essential to the welfare of 

 the eggs, and when the air is admitted, 

 the liquid evaporates and all further 

 development is stopped. As already 

 stated, the fruit is afterwards allowed 

 to ripen four or five days, when it is 

 ready for consumption. 



The usual explanation of the figs 

 bsing cut to allow the wasps to escape 

 is not correct. If the operation is 

 postponed until the eggs have been 

 hatched the admittance of the air will 

 not prevent the young insects leaving 

 the cells, but the cultivators are careful 

 not to postpone the work until that 

 time. The branches are usually sur- 

 rounded with nets as soon as the figs 

 are opened. This protects the fruit 

 from bats and birds, and prevents any 

 of it falling to the ground and being 

 spoiled. It is always collected by hand. 

 All the work in connection with the 

 crop, including the beating of the tree, 

 is done by the "gemamzia" who buy 

 the year's fruit in advance. A good 

 tree brings as much as £1 per year. 



The owner of the tree seldom gathers 

 the fruit or sells it by measure, unless 

 in the case of small trees in the fields, 

 where the quantity is not sufficient to 

 attract the merchants. 



USES OF THE TREE 



In olden times the timber of the 

 sycamore appears to have been exten- 

 sivelv used in the industrial arts. The 



A DEVELOPING FLOWER 



The greatly enlarged ovary of the 

 flower indicates that a young fig- 

 wasp has hatched out and is 

 developing inside. When this takes 

 place, the inside of the fruit fills up 

 with a liquid which it secretes. 

 When the Egyptian cuts a hole in 

 the end of the fruit, this liquid 

 dries up and the fig is rendered 

 edible. (Fig. 6.) 



wood was seasoned in water to make it 

 hard and unchangeable. Its power of 

 resisting decay when immersed in water 

 is still appreciated and we find that its 

 principal use today is in the constrtic- 

 tion of wells. 



As a tree, the sycamore supports 

 town conditions quite well; it requires 

 severe pruning to keep its spreading 

 branches within the limits of a street 



