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CHAPTER IX. 



OF FIGS, 



Different Sorts described,,. .Of Raisings Pruning, Trainings 

 and Sheltering Fig- Trees'^, 



The f ig has been cultivated in England ever since the year 

 1762. Some of the oldest that we know of in this kingdom 

 are in the Archbishop gf Canterbury's gardens at Lambeth. 



This genus of plants is arranged in the third order of Lin- 

 naeus's twenty-third class, entitled Polygamia Tricecia. 



The folhwing are the Sorts best worth Cultivating in this 

 Country. 



1. The Brown, or Chesnut-coloured Ischia Fig. This is 

 one of the largest that we have : It is of a brown or chesnut co- 

 lour on the outside, and purple within ; the grains are large, 

 and the pulp sweet and high flavoured. It ripens in August ; 

 and, if planted against a hot wall, two crops may be obtained 

 annually. 



2. The Black Genoa Fig is a long fruit of a dark purple 

 colour, the inside being of a bright red, and the flesh very high 

 flavoured. It ripens in the latter end of August. 



3. I'he Small White Early Fig. The skin of this fruit is 

 of a pale yellow when ripe ; the flesh is white and sweet. It 

 is ripe about the latter end of August, or beginning of Sep- 

 tember. 



4. The Large White Genoa Fig. This is a large fruit, 

 the skin is thin and yellow when ripe, and red within. It is a 

 good fruit, and is ripe about the latter end of August. This 

 and the preceding bear two crops annually. 



5. The Black Ischia Fig is a middle-sized fruit ; the skin 

 is almost black when ripe, and the inside of a deep red. The 



/ flesh is high flavoured, and the trees good bearers. 



* I have never seen any fig-trees in America ; but I have no doubt but, 

 with the precautions here dictated, they would do very welL 



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