THE FIG. 239 



similar to that of a pear, more or less rounded; and if the 

 opinion deduced from experiments by Mr. Monck be cor- 

 rect, the external figure is a clue to the internal arrange- 

 ments, for he came to the conclusion that figs are never 

 produced containing both kinds of florets in an eflicient 

 state ; that those in which the male flowers only are perfect, 

 never become eatable ; and that, finally, these male figs 

 may be known by their being rather squat-shaped, while 

 the superior female fruit is characterized by the more 

 elegant form of the pear.* Neither can boast very bril- 

 liant hues, for the colour is always some rather neutral 

 tint, the commonest being a brownish purple. One great 

 peculiarity of the fig-tree consists in the fact of its bear- 

 ing several crops in succession during the same year. 

 On the shoots formed by the first flow of sap in the spring, 

 figs appear at every eye, which ripen during autumn ; 

 but in July and August, as the sap begins to flow again, 

 " midsummer shoots," as they are called, are formed, and 

 these put forth figs also, which remain immature through 

 the winter, and ripen not till the next year, earlier or later 

 according to the warmth of the climate, forming the first 

 crop of the season. Not only do these vernal figs often 

 differ both in form and colour from those of autumn, but 

 the midsummer shoots, being to the spring ones only as 

 one to six or eight, and the produce in proportion, in warm 

 countries this first crop is held in little esteem, as is seen 

 by the expression in Hosea, ix. 10, where it is said dis- 

 paragingly of the Jews, " I saw your fathers as the first 

 ripe in the fig-tree." In England, however, at least in the 

 open air, the contrary is the case ; the fruit usually re- 

 quiring the whole year to mature, and the later growth 

 mostly perishing at the approach of winter, though at 

 Tarring the second crop has occasionally ripened, when 

 the fruit, though smaller, has been very sweet. In Bar- 

 bary and some other parts a third crop appears, which 

 often hangs and ripens upon the trees after the leaves are 

 shed ; and when grown here in stoves three and even four 



* See Plate VI., figs. S& 4. 



