THE FIG. 



277 



over large loaves and compressed cakes are made o± 

 this frLiit and sent into the interior of the Sahara. In the 

 neighbourhood of Nice wine is made of figs, and the 

 natives consider it sweet and palatable. 



It is remarkable that in some districts they still 

 continue to hang up Caprifigs between the branches of 

 such varieties of Fig as have been proved to no longer 

 rec|uire pollination to ripen their fruits. This practice 

 has frequenth^ been referred to to show how tenacious 

 are old customs. At the same time this must not be 

 regarded as an entireU' useless proceeding. It seems that 

 even when pollination h\ the Blastophagae 

 is not necessary- their stings act 

 as an irritant and thus promote 

 the development of the fig. This 

 would agree with the statement that 

 corresponding effects have 

 also been obtained b^' 

 similar irritants. Thus man\' 

 owners of gardens in Nice 



are in the habit of pricking the tips 

 of young figs when theA' are about 

 the size of the thumb. They tliink 

 that this will increase their gro^^•th 

 and cause them to ripen more 

 quickly. Others prick the tigs, 

 shortly before they ripen, with 

 a straw or wooden spike which 

 the\' dip iirst in the finest Olive oil. 

 This is corroborated b\' the 



nicera i-viplexcc. 



