598 



THE FIG. 



protect such naked parts from the direct rays of the sun ; and if some of 

 these shoots should be at variance with the regular disposition of the 

 branches, still the mind would find sufficient compensation for the slight breach 

 of irregularity that might be apparent, in the discovery of design and utility. 

 The fruit should be gathered before it is thoroughly ripe, otherwise it is apt 

 to become mealy. The tree is much less subject to insects than the peach ; 

 probably from the more coriaceous nature of its bark and leaves. It does 

 not force well, but one or two plants of the red Masculine may be tried in the 

 peach-house. 



SuBSECT. V. — The Fig, 



1321. The Fig, Ficus Carica L. (Figuier, Fr.; Feigenbaum, Ger.; Vig- 

 genboom, Dutch ; Fico, Ital. ; and Higuera, Span. — Arb. Brit., vol. iii., 

 p. 1865, and Encyc. of Trees and Shrubs, p. 712), is a low, deciduous tree, 

 a native of Asia and Barbary, in situations near the sea, and naturalised in 

 Italy and the south of Europe, where it has been cultivated since the time 

 of the Romans, as it has been in Greece and Egypt from the earliest ages. 

 In British gardens the fig is chiefly cultivated under glass ; but it will arrive 

 at maturity on the open wall in warm situations, and indeed wherever the 

 grape will ripen. The fruit is of no use, except in a ripe state, when it is 

 much prized for the dessert by many persons, while others prefer the dried 

 figs of commerce. The fig is much cultivated in the south of France and 

 Italy, where the varieties are numerous. Among the best of those grown 

 in British gardens are the following : — 



Brown Turkey, s^^n. Brown Italian. Fruit middle-sized, obovate ; skin 

 brown; pulp very delicious; the plant equally desirable for growing against 

 a wall or in pots. 



Brunswick, syn. Madonna, &c. Fruit very large ; skin pale green on 

 the shaded side, next the sun of a brownish-red ; flesh pinkish, extremely 

 rich, sweet, and high-flavoured ; ripe the beginning and middle of August. 

 The leaves deeply and more beautifully divided than in any other variety. 

 " This," says Mr. Lindley (^Guide to the Orchard, S)C.), " is one of the most 

 useful of the hardy figs. In a south-eastern corner, trained against a wall, 

 it ripens by the middle of August in even unfavourable seasons. In an 

 ordinary summer, in the neighbourliood of London, it begins to mature by 

 the beginning of that month. It is, perhaps, the largest purple fig we have, 

 and the most useful variety that can be selected for a small garden." At 

 Whiteknight's, near Reading, it ripens as a standard. 



Marseilles, syn. Pocock, &c. Fruit small ; the skin pale green ; flesh 

 white, dry, sweet, and rich ; ripe in August ; succeeds well in the highest 

 temperature of a pine-stove, in w^iich it was for many years cultivated by 

 the late Mr. Knight, of Downton Castle. On the open wall it is but an 

 indifferent bearer. 



Nerii. Fruit rather less than the Marseilles, and more long in shape ; 

 skin pale greenish-yellow ; pulp similar in colour to that of a pomegranate ; 

 much the richest fig known in Britain ; there is in its juice a slight degree 

 of very delicate acid, which renders it peculiarly agreeable to most palates ; 

 succeeds best under glass, in a low temperature. 



Pregussata. Fruit large ; skin reddish -purple ; pulp deep red ; remark- 

 ably sweet and rich ; seeds unusually small ; ripe from August to October. 



Small brown Ischia. Fruit small ; skin brown ; pulp purple, of a very 



