8 



EOTAL HOETICULTUltAL SOCLETV. 



manifested. The acid, with twenty-five parts of water, gave 

 nearly the same result ; for of sixteen figs, ten ripened, one of 

 which split, three increased in size, and three remained in slain 

 quo. "With fifty parts of water, eight figs ripened without 

 splitting, one split, and seven were more or less near ripening. 

 "With one hundred parts of water, out of eighteen unripe fruit, 

 in a week or a little more, six ripened perfectly, eight increased 

 and approached maturity, while four remained as at first. "With 

 one hundred and fifty parts of water, out of three fruit of the 

 Sarnese and four of the Brogiotto, no effect was produced; 

 while, on the contrary, three of the Andreone ripened, one of 

 the Papa figs split, three others ripened, and one remained in- 

 active, fifteen in all. Out of nineteen figs treated with acid 

 lowered with two hundred parts of water, one ripened, three 

 approached maturity, and the rest remained unaltered. "Willi 

 three hundred parts of water, two ripened, four almost ripened, 

 and nine showed no change. "With five hundred parts of water, 

 the acid had no effect on twelve of the Sarnese and Brogiotto Figs ; 

 but three of the Papa Fig ripened, and another almost ripened : 

 but the vegetative condition of the Andreone, rank, young, and full 

 of life, and, in a word, sensitive to every little stimulus, was not 

 j)roportionate to that of the other two, which were old and almost 

 exhausted. This second series of experiments on the action of 

 sulphuric acid always proved, with more or less precision, its 

 exciting power in promoting the anticipation of maturity in 

 the fig. 



Carbolic acid operates so fatally on the receptacle of the fig 

 that, wherever it is applied or is spilled, the green colour in a 

 very short time disappears, the subjacent tissue dries up, and 

 becomes of a yellowish white, and then blackish ; the scales of 

 the mouth become hard, and afterwards acquire a reddish-brown 

 colour. All this takes place in two or three days ; but fre- 

 quently, when the acid has been able to remain for some time, 

 generally about the third day, moulds begin to appear on the 

 decayed part, amongst which is a conidiiferous form, very near 

 AUernaria tenuis, belonging perhaps to Pleospora Jicrbarum, but 

 very fragile. In the meanwhile the portion of the receptacle which 

 is free from the immediate action of the acid, increases, becomes 

 tender, acquires its own natural colour of maturity, in short, 

 ripens prematurely at least ten days earlier than it would have 

 done by natural means only. Out of twenty fruit, fourteen were 



