138 [ THE FIG TREE 



are the so-called white caprifig (duccar abjad) and the 

 red caprifig (duccar akmar}. The white caprifig is that 

 most frequently met with. Its fruits are whitish green, 

 with red scales at the orifice. The red caprifig is 

 smaller, round or somewhat flattened, of a uniform 

 rusty greenish red colour; it is "drier" than the white 

 variety, and is preferred whenever obtainable. 



A late variety of green caprifig, producing long 

 fruits, (M = duccar bzenguli], which mature their galls 

 about three weeks later than the other sorts, is much 

 valued for the caprificatioa of late or secondary crops 

 of figs which otherwise would be lost. 



2. The BLACK BOURGEASSOTTE (Maltese = Parsott 

 issued, \ta\\an. = brogiotto nero). The leaves are frequently 

 almost entire, or imperfectly lobed with obtuse segments. 

 The tree is often middling in size, but is vigorous 

 and very productive. The fruits are broad, top-shaped 

 or flattened, with a short and slender stalk, and ripen 

 slowly. They are dark violet, almost black at maturity, 

 with circular netting or fissures of the skin. The pulp 

 is dark red, very luscious and sweet. The first fruits 

 ripen about mid-August, and maturation is prolonged 

 until October or even later. The tree does not require 

 caprification. This is one of the best figs for the 

 table. 



3. The WHITE BOURGEASSOTTE (M = Parsott abjad. 

 \\.-=Brogiotto bianco]. The tree and its foliage are very 

 similar to the preceding, but the leaves are of a lighter 

 green, and their petioles are white without any shading 

 of red as in the black variety. The iruit is also similar 

 in shape, but more rounded at the orifice, and takes 

 a whitish or yellowish green colour at maturity, with 

 circular netting as in the sister variety, but maturation 

 is not so prolonged. It is an ideal fig for the table, 

 and is also a very good sort for drying. This is the only 

 white fig requiring no caprification, and like the black 

 variety never sheds off any green fruit. 



