128 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ June, 
nins times consecutively, under the impression that the child would be cured 
of an internal rupture through the performance. After this ceremony had 
been gone through, the tree was carefully bound up, and bedaubed with clay 
compost, in true grafting style; the assumption being that as the bark callused 
over, and the wound caused to the tree healed up, the child would also gradually 
become cured. What affinity there could possibly be between the healing of 
the tree and the cure of the child’s affection, remains a complete mystery in the 
mind of the operator, although the ladies in question were quite confident of its. 
efficacy, and asserted in proof the case of a person who had been subjected to the 
ceremony twenty-four years previously, and was now ablebodied and sound.. 
0 tempora ! 0 mores ! 
The nursery trade is most undoubtedly entitled to the benefit of this rite^ 
and ash-tree growers in particular should note that the ceremony must be per¬ 
formed on Good Friday, and before the rising of the sun. The better the day^ 
the better the deed,” may be applied to the superstitious bearing of this case, but 
as ashen trees subjected to this treatment would heal up if operated upon any 
day between the 25th of February and the 25th of May, I beg to plead iu 
behalf of the trade that the season for performing the rite be prolonged, and 
not limited to any particular day, feeling confident it would be equally efficacious 
on any day within the three months specified. 
Nurserymen should be awake! In these competitive times, ashen trees must 
be grown ! Not only every new idea, but every ancient superstition, needs to 
be utilized, for the credit side of their balance-sheets.—0. B. S., Jersey. 
FIG GROSSE MONSTRUEUSE DE LIPARI. 
S an early, free-fruiting useful variety, this Fig merits attention, and is well 
worthy of cultivation. In its general appearance it resembles, in many 
respects, the good old Brown Turkey, differing, however, in the more- 
turbinate, flattened shape of the fruit, and in its habit of growth, which is 
more stubby ; it is, moreover, a better producer of the first crop. In this last 
respect it is of sterling merit, and one of the most satisfactory varieties in existence.. 
It is essentially a “ first-bearing ” variety, and but rarely produces a second 
crop. It is well known that some varieties of Figs are apt to cast their fruit 
much more readily than others, through some defect in the setting. This the- 
Grosse Monstrueuse de Lipari very rarely does, so that almost every fruit which 
is formed—and they are formed in abundance—comes to perfection ; and this, too, 
under very adverse treatment, as I have frequently proved. The fruits ripen, 
about the same time as those of the Brown Turkey, and the plants require much 
about the same treatment. 
Fruit, medium-sized, roundish-turbinate, much flattened at the apex. Skin 
light brown or chestnut-coloured, shading off to dark, and with dark-colouredi 
ribs, and occasionally dark spots throughout, the whole being covered with a 
