106 ON SEVERAL SPECIES OF FICUS, INCLUDING THE COMMON FIG. 
this being the kind into which Zaccheus is said to have climbed to get a view of the 
passing Saviour. Luke xix. 4. 
These trees, in their native countries, produce large timber, having trunks from 4 
to 5 feet in diameter; and when fully matured the heart- wood is considered so hard and 
indestructible, that for ages it has been thought to be the best kind calculated for coffins 
and mummy cases, and some of these latter have been found in a state of good preservation, 
which have lain for upwards of 3000 years. 
Ficus carica, or Common Fig, is too well known to need any description. It is a 
native of the south of Europe, and has been long naturalised in Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, 
Barbary, the Isles of the Levant, and many other parts, and we learn from ancient 
history that they formed an important article of food amongst the inhabitants of all the 
countries in the East. In their wild state they become large spreading trees, and bear a 
profusion of fruit of the finest kind. 
With a few exceptions, however. Figs scarcely succeed well in this country as standards ; 
our variable climate, and deficiency of solar light and heat, rarely allow of the wood coming 
to maturity, so that the fruit are apt to fall prematurely, yet in fine summers exceptions 
occur to this rule, and in the South, and South-west, Fig Orchards are to be found, and, 
with few failures, good crops are secured, so much so as to render the experiment profitable. 
The usual method of growing the trees in this country is against walls, where in general 
crops of very good fruit are ripened. The aspect best suited for the purpose is South or 
South-east, and it must always be borne in mind that the Fig-tree is a very rampant grower, 
and it is therefore advisable never to make the border very rich. Obtain a quantity of 
good turfy loam, mix with it about one-sixth of brick and lime rubbish, but add no animal 
manure ; whatever is required of this kind can be added afterwards in the form of liquid 
manure, otherwise the shoots will make such rapid growth, and become so long-jointed, 
that fruit need scarcely be expected. 
The border may be prepared to about the depth of 3 feet, and may be extended to 10 
or 12 feet in width ; for drainage lay a large quantity of hard dry rubbish, much in the same 
manner as for vine borders. Some cultivators think it advisable to build walls beneath 
the ground, leaving the roots of each tree about 9 feet square of soil in which to grow ; 
but as a rule, this seems scarcely necessary, although in some situations it might be found 
expedient. Any superfluity of growth may always be remedied by judicious root-pruning ; 
and fructification is induced by continually stopping the young shoots at every few joints 
with the finger and thumb, which is preferable to using a knife. Boot-pruning may be 
easily accomplished by forcing down a sharp spade or other tool, and cutting off the roots 
at about three feet from the stem of a large tree, and two feet from the stem of a 
smaller one. This should be done early in autumn, and they will form new rootlets 
for Spring. 
Of the different modes of training, perhaps, the fan system is the best. The use of 
the knife is seldom required, except to cut out the large old wood ; lay the shoots in thin 
and by paying attention to stopping the young shoots at every few joints during the 
summer, a large crop of fruit will be induced to form. The nearer the roots of the trees 
are brought to the surface, the better will be the flavour of the fruit, and the earlier 
will they ripen ; it is therefore advisable never to dig the borders near the trees with 
a spade, for, by this means, all the surface-roots will be destroyed, and those only which lie 
deep and are of the least importance will survive ; let the earth be loosened with a fork in 
such a way as not to injure the roots more than can be avoided. 
If the trees are in good health, and yet do not bear fruit, cut out a trench three or 
four feet from the stem, and separate some of the main roots, then fill up the trench again 
with lime rubbish nearly to the surface, after which spread the soil ; by this means, the 
growth of the roots will receive a check, a number of rootlets will be formed, and fruitful- 
ness will be induced. A practice sometimes is followed of removing or shortening 
the leaves of the young wood when they hang over or conceal the fruit ; whenever this is 
practised, the contiguous buds remain immature, and unfruitfulness is the consequence. 
The fruit often swell well and then drop off; this either arises from a too sudden 
