368 Notes and Gleanings. 



on one side, and by degrees remove it. The best plants of statice are obtained 

 from seed ; such being more free in growth, and less liable to die off, than plants 

 from cuttings. 



The following article on figs, which we abridge from " The Florist," gives 

 much information about a fruit which receives too little attention : — 



A Selection of Choice Figs. — Variety is especially required in a collec- 

 tion of figs, in order that the fig-house may furnish fruits suitable and agreeable 

 at all times and to all tastes. There is to be found amongst figs abundance of 

 variety, whether we judge by size, color, flavor, hardiness, fruitfulness, or season 

 of ripening. I propose to give a selection of the most prominent varieties, hav- 

 ing regard to the foregoing points. 



Size. — Some figs are very large, while others are very small ; and some pre- 

 fer the one, some the other. Grosse Verte and Brunswick are the two largest 

 figs we have fruited here. I have seen very large fruits of Castle Kennedy ex- 

 hibited ; but I have not yet fruited this variety. Black Provence, Trois Recoltes, 

 and De Lipari, are the smallest. 



Color. — Some figs are in appearance more tempting than others. Tliere is 

 a great range of color amongst them ; some being so pale that tliey are termed 

 white, others so dark that they are called black. There are, however, none 

 either white or black. One of the palest-colored figs is De la Madeleine, which 

 is of a clear pale yellow ; another is the White Marseilles, which is pale green. 

 Col de Signora Nera, Bourjassotte Noire, and Black Provence, are good exam- 

 ples of the dark-colored varieties, — dark violet they may be called. Of green- 

 fruited sorts, the most striking is D'Agen and Grosse Verte ; of tawny brown, 

 Turkey, Brunswick, and De I'Archipel ; and, lastly, the striped-fruited fig (Figue 

 Panachee), which is really very handsome, being beautifully striped with deep 

 green and pale yellow. 



Taste, or Flavor. — This is always a ticklish subject, taste being so varied, 

 and varying so much, — one's own individual taste, that is ; one day liking one 

 thing, the next day something else, just as our health, or perhaps our temper, 

 may stand affected. Some prefer what they term mildness in the flavor of fruits : 

 this to me is mawkish insipidity. I prefer briskness in figs, — sugary luscious- 

 ness, which is found in well-ripened fruit of such varieties as Col de Signora 

 Blanca, Col de Signora Nera, Grosse V^erte, Bourjassotte Grise, and sometimes, 

 although not quite so constantly, in White Ischia and Black Provence. Again : 

 figs themselves vary much in flavor, according to the situation or conditions 

 under which they may be growing. Herein lies the charm of growing a number 

 of \"Tirieties in the same house. Some of the higher-flavored sorts require great 

 heat and bright sunshine to bring them up to full perfection. It may happen 

 that these conditions cannot be fulfilled : the weather may be dull and sunless, 

 and more heat may be required than can be given conveniently. Then some of 

 the second-rate sorts will surpass them in flavor. The little White Ischia is 

 very fickle in this respect : the fruits of to-day are excellent, those of three 

 days hence watery and tasteless. Bourjassotte Grise is the most constantly 



