72 



FIG CULTURE 



but their origin has been disputed. Seed have 

 been planted in large beds, some horticulturists 

 using a pint at once, and usually but one 

 or two promising trees have resulted in each 

 case. While they mostly produce wild figs, even 

 those which are edible seldom have female flow- 

 ers alone, and the presence of male flowers in 

 the same fig renders it worthless, that part of 

 the fruit where the male flower grows never ma- 

 turing, but remains tough and woody. Some of 

 our most valuable edible varieties grow male flow- 

 ers the first year or two, but their number rapidly 

 diminishes with age. 



