CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 185 



On one or two occasions young plants, stated to be of superior 

 kinds, have been sent to the gardens of the Agri-Horticultural 

 Society from Bombay, but they remained in pots, much in 

 the condition in which they came, for a long time without 

 making any growth. One of these, after having been put out 

 in the garden for several years, had a stem no thicker than a 

 stout walking-stick. I tasted the fruit it bore for the first time 

 in 1861. The Figs were small, but sweet and agreeable. The 

 tree died a month or so afterwards. 



In Europe the practice is to prune the Fig-tree very sparingly, 

 indeed merely in the summer season to pinch off with the finger 

 and thumb the ends of the tender shoots. But in India the 

 malees cut the trees in most severely in the cold weather, taking 

 off all branches as thick as a man's thumb. During the time the 

 trees have been at rest I have opened the roots and applied to 

 them a large quantity of blood from the shambles, but with no 

 perceptible advantage. Copious irrigation, after the fruit is well 

 formed, I found to accomplish all that could be wished. 



" The Fig," observes Mr. Mclntosh, " is not difficult to accom- 

 modate with a soil, provided it be dry at bottom ; if there be a 

 preference to any other it is certainly one of a calcareous nature."* 



In those parts of the country where it thrives, no plant is more 

 easy of propagation than the Fig. A branch cut off, however 

 rudely, and stuck in the ground, with shade and watering, is 

 almost sure to take root and grow. 



AETOCAKPACE^E. 

 Artocarpus integrifolius. 



JACK-FRUIT. 



Kuntul. 



The fruit of this tree is perhaps about one of the largest in 

 existence, and is an ill-shapen, somewhat oval-formed, unat- 

 tractive-looking object. The interior is of a soft fibrous consis- 

 tency, with the edible portions scattered here and there, of about 

 the size and colour of a small Orange. By those who can manage 

 to eat it, it is considered most delicious, possessing the rich spicy 

 scent and flavour of the Melon, but to such a powerful degree 



* * Book of the Garden,' p. 552. 



