254 THE FIG: ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CURING. 
lobes five. This fig is supposed by Rev. W. Wilks to be synonymous with 
Angelique, but this the author considers incorrect. A very heavy bearer. A 
most excellent fig for canning. 
Marzelli.—Vio!et purple; pulp white opaline. Italy. 
Matarassa—VMigue de Grasse; Grasse; Grassenque; Figue Grise; De Grasse; 
Grassale; Ficus grassensis Risso.—Very large, 8 to 9 inches in circumference 
by 3 inches long; very flattened at apex, else turbinate; neck short; ribs dis- 
tinct, longitudinal; stalks very short, scarcely perceptible; eye open; skin 
thin. yellowish white, covered with blue bloom: pulp very dark red; good 
for drying: leaves 3-lobed. with undulating margins and obtuse lobes. An 
extremely handsome fig of medium quality when fresh, but better when dried. 
The tree is a very vigorous grower and requires moist and rich soils. Greatly 
to be recommended for rich bottom lands. 
Matelassa—Matelassiera, Ficus sylvestris var. ventricosa (Geny).—First crop 
large, 4 by 2} inches; lopsided. one side protruding: skin blackish red; pulp 
yellow. One of the few figs with dark skin and white or yellow pulp. Nice 
and Provence. 
Matelassiera—MATELASSA. 
Mattaro—ALpo. : 
Mecque.—A French fig for drying and table. 
Meirana—VFicus meirana Risso.—First crop very large, brownish black; pulp 
red. Second crop heartshaped, violet black; pulp rose-colored. Levens on 
the Riviera, France. 
Melette— ANGELIQUE. 
Mentone—MENTONASCA. 
Mentonasca—Figue de Mentone, Mentone; Ficus erin. var. mentonensis Geny.— 
Above medium, 2? by 2 inches: pyriform: with a long neck; skin thin, tender, 
of a dark violet color; violet meat below the skin; pulp reddish, very sweet. 
Nice, Mentone, and their vicinity, France. 
Mentonensis—MENTONASCA. 
Meou—Figa de Meou (Provence); Figue Mielleuse; Ficus mellifera Risso; Ficus 
sylvestris var. smyrna Geny; Honey fig.—Two crops: First crop large, tur- 
binate, 2 to 24 inches diameter; skin thin, cracking. greenish-yelluw, vio- 
iet telow the skin: eye projecting: pulp red; very good. Second crop glob- 
ular. smaller, about 1? to % inches diameter: pulp red. paler than first crop; 
good for drying, but inferior when fresh. This fig was considered by Geny 
as identical with the true Smyrna fig, which is erroneous. It is cultivated in 
Savoy, at Nice, and other places. 
Merengiana—Ficus melitensis Risso; Ficus erin. var. melongena Geny.—First 
crop oblong-ovate, largest at the apex; skin thin, cracking, of a blackish-violet 
purple; meat violet streaked; rather sweet. Nice and the Riviera. 
Merioun—/H’ga a Merioun (Nice); Fico fetifero; Fico dall’ Osso (Italy); Ficus 
erin. var. feetifera Geny; Ficus nucleata Risso.—Two crops: First crop 
21 to 3 inches in diameter, sometimes bell-shaped, flattened; dark violet color, 
or greenish yellow, striated violet; sometimes contracted at the middle like a 
gourd, the apex part being dark violet. the stalk part being greenish yellow; 
eye very iarge open, emitting one or more small figs similar to the mother fig; 
pulp red. sweet. agreeable, but dry and hard around the eye. Second crop 
smaller, but with similar characteristics. The monstrosity of this fig is simi- 
lar to the one found, for instance, in roses, where the axis is prolonged. forming 
a new rose; or as in certain citrus fruits, such as the navel orange, etc. A 
curious, but not a valuable fig. Rare. Nice and Provence. 
Merlinga—Ficus erin. var. geminaGeny: Twin fig.—Below medium; 1? inches 
diameter, turbinate: color brownish black, fine violet at the stalk and neck; 
neck long and very slender; pulp red. Nice and Provence. 
Messongue.—Very large. At Salerno, France. 
Mezzith.—A blac fig from Kabylia which requires caprification. 
Migliavolo.—lItaly. 
Minna—San PEDRO, BLACK. 
Minna di Schiavo—San PEDRO, BLACK, 
Mission—Black Mission, Black California, California, Black Mexican.—Two 
crops: First crop or brebas large to medium; long. turbinate with the 
greatest diameter between the center and the apex. which is rounded. some- 
tim*s even pointed. causing the shape of the fig to become ovoid. Necklong, 
gradually set: stalk medium to short; ribs distinct, well marked. Eye promi- 
nent, raised. open, but not very large; scales rosy. Skin rough, slightly hairy 
or downy, deep mahogany violet with reddish flush in shade and on stalk 
covered with a thin bloom. Pulp not fine, red, but not blooded, rather 
brownish-amber red, shaded dark amber; sweet, but not flavored. The tree 
