228 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Abbe Delavery, is a creeping species, which ripens its edible fruits 

 underground [E. Groeze]. The bark of a Ficus-species is chiefly 

 used for tanning in Quito [Rev. Prof. Sodiro], 



Ficus lucida, Dryander and Alton. 



South-Asia. Recommended by Mr. D. Morris to be planted for 

 shelter and shade even on sea-coasts. 



Ficus macrophylla, Desfontaines.* 



The Moreton-Bay Fig-tree, which is indigenous through a great 

 part of East- Australia. Perhaps the grandest of Australian avenue- 

 trees, and among the very best to be planted, although in poor dry 

 soil its growth is slow. In the latitude of Melbourne it is quite 

 hardy in the lowland. The foliage may occasionally be injured by 

 grasshoppers. Easily Jraised from seeds, the smallness of which 

 admits of their very easy transmission to remote places. In the 

 coolest regions of the native growth or culture of this tree the seeds 

 do not mature so well as in the warmest. Growth in height at Port 

 Phillip, 30 feet in 20 years, on favorable soil. 



Ficus rubiginosa, Desfontaines. 



New South Wales. One of the most hardy of all Fig-trees, and 

 very eligible among evergreen shade-trees, particularly for prome- 

 nades. It is estimated that the genus Ficus comprises about 600 

 species, many occurring in cool mountain-regions of tropical 

 countries. The number of those, which would endure a temperate 

 clime, is probably not small. In New England, Mr. A. R. Craw- 

 ford noticed trees sending down air-roots 30 feet distant from the 

 main-stem, some nearer forming new stems, others 30 feet in height 

 descending along Angophora-stems, enclosing and suffocating them. 

 He measured a tree that was 60 feet in circumference of stem, and 

 had a height of 90 feet. 



Ficus Sycomorus, Linne.* 



The Sycomore-Figtree. Egypt, Abyssinia, Nubia. Copiously 

 planted along the road-sides of Egypt. The evergreen shady 

 foliage, on very spreading branches, extends to a width of 120 feet. 

 Attains an enormous age. A tree at Cairo, which legends connect 

 with Christ's time, still exists. Seven men with outstretched arms 

 could hardly encircle the stem. 



Ficus Watkinsiana, F. M. Bailey. 



Sub-tropical Eastern Australia. Allied to F. macrophylla, but 

 occupying higher elevations, and thus hardier than that species. 

 First brought under notice by the late Chevalier Camara in his 

 capacity as a collector. Ought to be tried for caoutchouc. For the 

 test of Ficus-trees as regards their fitness for yielding caoutchouc, 

 practical experts conversant with gathering and preparing the sap in 

 rubber-countries should be specially engaged. 



