THE FIG TREE. 



(Ficus Carica. L. URTICACEAE.) 



Maltese= Tina. Italian =Fico. French Figuicr. 



The Fig tree is native of the Mediterranean region, 

 and grows in a wild or half-wild state in our valleys, 

 rocky wastes, walls of fields, clefts on precipitous cliffs 

 etc., where it is disseminated chiefly through the agency 

 of birds. It is probably the first fruit tree cultivated by 

 man in subtropical countries when he ceased to lead a 

 wandering life, and therefore has given origin to 

 numberless varieties, and has become one of the trees 

 most amenable to cultivation. It agrees well with all 

 soils and all situations, provided that the soil is free from 

 stagnant humidity, and at least in our climate its 

 cultivation is most easy. The fig tree has a powerful 

 root-system which extends far and wide, often to a 

 considerable distance from the trunk, and on this 

 account it delights on deep soils especially where there 

 is a deep broken or porous subsoil, or in old stone- 

 quarries with a moist rock and deep ground made up of 

 stones and rubbish. Nevertheless, the fig tree is a surface 

 feeder, and where it is allowed free scope in the upper 

 layers of the soil, the tree may lose in vigour but 

 becomes very productive, and the fruit is of superior 

 quality. 



PROPAGATION. The fig tree like most fruit trees 

 which have become more or less deeply modified by 

 long cultivation, hardly ever comes true from seed, and 

 therefore its propagation by direct sowing of seed is 

 never attempted. Self-sown seedlings are very frequent 

 in gardens, valleys etc. but these are usually budded or 

 grafted with one of the cultivated varieties, although of 



