690 Ttcus stipuldta at Mail/ House. 



rafter, 18 ft. ; in all, 21 ft. from the pot or root. It now threw 

 its branches downward, covering the greater part of the whole 

 end of the house ; and began turning itself along the back 

 wall of the house, just below the wall-plate. In about three 

 years' time it reached the farther end of the house, 35 ft. ; and 

 in its progress covered about a space of 1 8 in. wide or deep. 

 On reaching this end of the house, which is glass, of course 

 it could go no farther ; and it now began, as at the other end, 

 to extend its branches downwards, to complete its undertaking, 

 namely, that of covering the whole of the back wall ; which it 

 now bids fair to do, having nearly accomplished that object 

 at the present time : when this is effected, it will have ex- 

 tended from the root 56 ft. by 10 ft. It is now throwing out 

 very vigorous shoots and leaves : the leaves have a deep green, 

 glossy appearance. About September last it first showed 

 fruits, which are now about seven or eight in number, and 

 nearly the size of the common brown fig just before it begins 

 to ripen. Whether these will ripen or not, I cannot say. I 

 have no doubt but that, in the course of the summer, there 

 will be an abundant show of fruit on it ; and I mean to 

 encourage some of its branches over the wire trellis used for 

 the vines under the rafters, to give it a better chance of ripen- 

 ing its fruit. The plant has extended its roots into the solid 

 brick wall in the end of the house; and a brick compartment, 

 directly under where the pot stands, was filled with mould, 

 not with the intention of giving it support, but for growing 

 some other plants in : this it soon found out, and took pos- 

 session of, and into it an immensely strong root has found its 

 way ; although the pot which first contained it still remains 

 in the same place as at first, and contains the original part of 

 the root, and has a deep pan under it. I now supply it plenti- 

 fully with water at the roots, taking care to fill up the pan with 

 water every day, the whole of the contents of which is invari- 

 ably absorbed before the next day, and very frequently I syringe 

 it all over its leaves, with which it seems highly delighted. I 

 should feel obliged by you or any of your readers informing 

 me whether the fruit is fit for the dessert; and, should you 

 wish it, I shall feel pleasure in forwarding to you a specimen 

 of the fruit, should it reach to maturity on this plant. I am, 

 Sir, yours, &c. — TV. Wilson. Merley Gardens, Feb. 28. 1832. 

 Mr. Wilson, in a subsequent communication (dated 

 June 28. 1832), has informed us, that the first crop of fruits 

 dropped off without ripening, and that the plant is now bear- 

 ing a plentiful second one. He is very desirous to learn 

 if other correspondents have witnessed its bearing fruit in 

 Britain, whether the fruit has been ripened, and whether, 



