“PHYSICAL ann LITERARY. 269 
at does not fay that he tried them; but in 
| yeneral, that the date ftones of the French 
P iffands would not grow ; and, it can fearce be 
ay 
. ohee 
- fuppofed. there were no males among” all 
their palm-trecs. Befides many things con- 
cerning palm-trees, which appeared to be as 
well attefted, are found to be ‘vulgar errors. 
But, granting that they really are barren ; this 
may be owing to the climate, to the foil, 
‘to bad culture, or to the want of Pontedera’s 
— culices, rather than of the male daft, for any 
thing yet appears, 
; 39. ARGU- 
ficus venundabant, quo facilius emptores allicerent, ova d. 
 « vaplvara iterum atque iterum clamitare folebant.” And, 
after explaining the ufe of caprification, he adds, ‘ Quare 
“ concludendum, caprificationem in Graecia ob externas 
« caufas effe neceflariam, nequaquam ob ficus naturam, cum 
alibi poma coquant non caprificata. Eadem etiam: de 
caufa palmas in quibufdam regionibus efle caprificandas, 
r : aliis minime ; id autem per culices fieri, non vero per 
affeGtionem, quam apices we Aa communicent, fatis 
® “ demonftratum eft.” See Anthol. 1. 2. c. 34, and 35. p. 
Wg 172; &c. Now fince M. Hecarpt’s . or Miller does 
_ not go abroad, till well brufhed, and freed of the duft; fince 
g there is no caprification in /taly ; and fince, this notwithftand- 
‘ing, he, and Linnaeus alfo affirm, “ Ficus in Hollandia 
i“ " quotannis prolici e feminibus, vel Fructu lacerato terrae 
commendato, fruétu tamen illo ex Italia allato.” Amaen. 
\cad. I. p- 233. Exam. Epicris. p. 16. &c.; I leave it to 
reader to determine, whether caprification affords an argu- 
Fase 
_ ment for, or again{t the fexes of plants. 
