FRUIT GARDEN. 273 



a better philosophy. " How," says Bosc, " can the 

 larva of the Cynips improve, the fig, otherwise than 

 the larva of the Phalaena improves the apple ? And 

 who would be desirous of having a crop of worm- 

 eaten apples, merely for the pleasure of eating them 

 a week or a fortnight earlier 1* 



The fig-tree is liable to few diseases, nor is the 

 fruit much injured by the attacks of insects. In 

 England the red spider, and in France a species of 

 Coccus, to which is given the name of ihe Jig-louse, 

 are regarded as its worst enemies. The first is got 

 rid of by watering and smoking the tree ; and the 

 last by rubbing the stem, branches, &c., with a 

 coarse cloth. 



The MULBERRY (Morus). The species are two, 

 the White, cultivated for its leaves only (which form 

 the food of the silkworm), and the Black, a native 

 of our own forests, and well meriting our attention 

 for its fruit, recommended as it is by its highly aro- 

 matic flavour and cooling subacid juices, which, 

 like those of the strawberry, are not susceptible of 

 the acetous fermentation, and, of course, particu- 

 larly proper and useful for rheumatic and gouty pa- 

 tients, f 



This tree is propagated by seeds, suckers, layers, 

 cuttings, and scions. Those from seeds are suppo- 

 sed to give the largest berries, but at such an ex- 

 pense both of time and patience as to deter most 

 cultivators from the experiment. Suckers are liable 

 to the same objection, though in a somewhat less 

 degree ; and grafting, except by approach, rarely 

 succeeds. | Layers and cuttings are, therefore, the 

 modes generally employed; of each of which we 

 shall say a few words : and, 



* Olivier, speaking of caprification, says, " It is a tribute paid 

 by man to ignorance and prejudice ;" adding, that the practice 

 is going fast into disuse, even in the Ionian Isles. Travels in 

 the Ottoman Empire. 



t Encyclopaedia of Gardening. J Hort. Trans., vol. i., p. 60. 



