COMMON FIG-TREE. -173 
but slight remains of the old trunk to be seen, which had thrown out a number 
of branches, perhaps of twenty or thirty years' growth, and upwards of twcnl 
five feet in length. The fig-tree, though introduced so early, appears for a L< 
time, not to have been extensively cultivated in England, which is thought by 
Professor Burnet to be owing to a popular prejudice that existed against this 
tree, as once having been a common vehicle for poison, a singular contrast to 
the ideas expressed in "Holy Writ" respecting this fruit; the best blessing of 
heaven being typified by 
"Every man sitting under his own fig-tree." 
The fig is in general cultivation in first rate British gardens, usually against 
walls; but in some parts of the southern counties, as along the coast of Sussex, 
and in Devonshire, &c, it is propagated as a standard. In Scotland, it is never 
grown as a standard; but, in some parts of East Lothian, and in Wigtonshire, it 
ripens its fruit against a south wall, without the aid of artificial heat 
The largest fig-tree, as a wall fruit, in England, is at Farnham Castle, where, 
in twenty-five years after planting, it had attained the height of forty feet 
The largest standard tree of this species in England, is at Arundel (astir. 
in Sussex, and exceeds twenty-five feet in height, with a trunk a foot in diam- 
eter. 
In France, the culture of the fig-tree was not carried to any degree of perfi c- 
tion till the time of Olivier de Serres; but it is now general throughout the whole 
country. In the southern departments, its fruit is grown for drying, as an arti- 
cle of commerce, but in the northern districts, it is only used for the table. In 
the neighbourhood of Nantes, the tree, as a standard, seldom exceeds eighteen feet 
in height; but at Avignon, it attains an elevation of twenty or twenty-five feet 
In Italy, at Monza, there is a fig-tree, which, in sixty years after planting, had 
attained the height of thirty feet, with a trunk eighteen inches in diameter, and 
an ambitus of sixty feet. 
In the east, as well as in Italy and Spain, the fig forms a considerable article 
of commerce, as well as a considerable part of the sustenance of the population. 
In the southern states of the American union, the fig-tree is planted as a stand- 
ard, and produces fruit of an excellent quality. In the middle and northern sti 
it is propagated as a conservatory or wall tree, and necessarily requires protec- 
tion during winter. . 
Mythological and Legendary Allusions. The Egyptians ami Greeks held the 
fruit of this tree in great estimation; it being the custom to carry a basket .-I 
next to the vessel of wine used in the Dionysia, or festival m honour ol Bacchus, 
The Romans, also, carried the fig next to the wine, in their processions, in hon- 
our of the same god, as a patron of joy and plenty; and Bacchus was supposed 
by them, to have derived his corpulency and vigour from this fruit, and not the 
grape. Saturn, one of the Roman deities, was represented crowned with new 
figs; he being supposed to have first taught. the use ol agriculture in Italy. 
There was a temple in Rome, dedicated to tins god, before which grew a large 
fig-tree The fig is related to have been the favourite tn.it ot < leopatra; and 
the asp', with which she terminated her life, was conveyed to her in a basket oi 
figs. Thestory of Romulus and Renms hem suckled by a wolt under a fig-tree, 
is familiar to every one conversant in ancient history. irnon, oi Athens, who 
tied* Misanthrope, from his aversion to mankind and all society, once went 
nublic olace, where his appearance, as an on. tor. soon collected a large 
was cat 
