362 



Notes and Gleanings, 



Grosse Verte Fig. — This very excellent fig is one of the largest, hand- 

 somest, and richest-flavored varieties in cultivation. Though not new, it was 

 but little known until last year, when it was fruited at Chiswick, and was 

 awarded a first-class certificate. 



The fruit is large, roundish ovate or obovate, inclining to pyriform, slightly 

 ribbed, with a short, thick neck, which is sometimes better defined than in the 

 accompanying figure. The stalk is stout, about half an inch in length ; the skin 

 is of a lively-green color, smooth and glossy, marked with numerous small round 



white dots, changing, when ripe, to a pale greenish-yellov/^, streaked with rus- 

 sety brown, very thin, and cracks lengthways as the fruit ripens ; the flesh is 

 of a bright red throughout, thick, sirupy, and most delicious in flavor ; the eye 

 is large and open ; the fruit sometimes, when fully grown, either from want of 

 sufficient heat or from too much moisture, splits from the eye into two or three 

 pieces, which curve backwards, thus exposing the bright red interior. 



The plant is of stout and robust growth, with large, deep green, moderately- 

 lobed leaves. It is a free-bearing variety, well suited for pot-culture, and ripen- 

 ing rather late in the season. 



