Fruit and Vegetables. 95 



and with the exception of cutting out weakly shoots, 

 or dead wood, no pruning is required. Some culti- 

 vators recommend a slight dressing of manure every 

 second year, which should be applied in February 

 and lightly dug into the soil. 



The Fig can be propagated by cuttings of ripe 

 wood, half a metre long, which should be taken in 

 the early spring and planted in sandy soil in a 

 slanting direction, with their heads just above the ground. 



The following are the varieties, under their native 

 names, that are commonly grown : 



Saltarne The Sidi Gabr Fig. A long, large, red 

 variety used for drying and preserving. 



Cou-met-re The Pear Fig. This variety is similar 

 to the former, but whitish instead of red. It is con- 

 sidered to be the sweetest of all. 



Hub-bas-hee A small black round variety. 



Balady. Round and flat. 



Utsee Round, flat, and red. 



A-gay-ee. A very sweet, green, flat, and round variety. 



Others of a good quality might also be introduced. 



Mangifera indica The Mango. A somewhat 

 dwarf tree with oblong dark green leaves like a 

 Ficus, and bears in April and May erect terminal 

 panicles of small whitish flowers. A few nice speci- 

 mens exist in the gardens of Cairo, but the fruit is 

 of little value. Much, however, might be done by 

 grafting and cuttings, as there are nearly as many 

 varieties of the Mango as there are of apples, and 

 consequently a considerable difference in the quality 

 of the fruit. 



Musa sapientum Banana Mouz. This dwarf 

 variety is largely grown in Lower Egypt in plantations, 

 and also in private gardens. It requires a rich, moist 

 soil and plenty of manure. The fruit, which is borne 

 at all seasons of the year, should be cut just before 

 it ripens, and hung in a dark room, where it will 

 become mellow and well flavoured. After fruiting, 

 the old stems should be cut away, the weakest of the 



