﻿Inventory 42, Seeds and Plants Imported. 



Plate II. 



The Sycamore Fig (Ficus sycomorus S. P. I. Nos. 39827, 39857, and 39858). 



From the wood of this "sycamore" of Scripture, the "Tree of Life" of the Egyptians, the ancient 

 coffins were made. It is a true rig tree and was introduced into Egypt, probably from Yemen 

 on the east coast of the Red Sea, in very early times. It bears figs of inferior quality which are 

 inhabited by the fig insect (Sycophaga crassipes). These figs are not fit to eat unless their tips 

 are cut off to let the fig insects escape. From the time of Pliny even the Egyptian boys hare 

 operated on these sycamore figs, using a kind of thimble made of iron plate ending in an iron 

 "finger nail." The figs are borne on small leafless fleshy branches arising directly from 

 the trunk, and it is the practice to beat the trunk of the tree with a hammer to increase its 

 fruitfulness. The illustration shows the scars thus induced. Photographed by S. C. Mason 

 (P20231CP). 



