882 THE FRUIT MANUAL. 



NEGRO LARGO (Noire de Languedoc). Fruit, of the largest size, 

 nearly four inches long by two and three-quarters wide ; long pyriform. 

 Skin, jet black, marked with longitudinal ribs, extending the whole 

 length of the fruit. Eye, open, and generally with a globule of syrup 

 dropping from it when quite ripe. Stalk, short. Flesh, pale red, very 

 tender and juicy, with a rich, thick, and highly-flavoured juice, and 

 when highly ripened the flesh and skin together become quite melting 

 and form a delicious sweetmeat. 



This is one of the best figs in cultivation. 



The late Mr. Fleming, of Cliveden, says : " The habit of the plant is good, and 

 for growing in pots it is unequalled by any other fig I know. The plant from 

 which the fruit was taken, which I exhibited to the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 was grown in an 8^-inch pot, and brought to perfection three dozen fruit, weigh- 

 ing from three to four ounces each." 



NERII. See White Ischia. The variety Mr. Knight introduced 

 under this name was the White Ischia. By the name " Nerii " is 

 intended the " Nero," or Black Fig, of the Italians, and the variety 

 Mr. Knight received was evidently incorrect ; the true Fico Nero being 

 the Black Ischia, and not the White Ischia. 



Nero. See Black Ischia. 



NIGRETTE. Fruit, very small, oblate, and with a short neck. 

 Skin, dark black-purple all over the apex, and half-way towards the 

 stalk, where it shades off to a reddish purple. Stalk, one-eighth of 

 an inch long. Eye, open like an eyelet-hole. Flesh, pale rose- 

 coloured, juicy, sweet, and well-flavoured. 



NOIRE D'ESPAGNE. Fruit, small, round, and regularly formed, 

 without ribs. Skin, thick, quite black, covered with a thick blue 

 bloom, which gives it a very handsome appearance, and cracking in 

 white lines when ripe. Eye, closed. Stalk, short. Flesh, deep rose- 

 coloured ; tender, juicy, and very sweet, but not so rich and sugary. 



This is like Black Bourjassotte, but is extremely early, it being quite 

 past when the others are ripening. 



Noire de Languedoc. See Negro Largo. 



OSB'ORN'S PROLIFIC. Fruit, roundish turbinate, tapering into a 

 very long neck, some specimens measuring as much as three inches 

 and three-quarters long from the eye to the end of the stalk. Skin, dark 

 mahogany, gradually shading off to pale brown towards the neck, which 

 is bright pea-green ; the surface is thickly dotted and speckled with 

 grey or white. Flesh, quite opaline, without any trace of red, with a 

 rich syrupy juice and excellent flavour. 



An excellent fig, introduced by Messrs. Osborn, of the Fulham 

 Nursery, in 1879. The tree is an abundant bearer, and is well adapted 

 for pot culture. 



