Fig-tree
ORD. Urticaceae. An extensive genus of usually stove or greenhouse trees or shrubs. Flowers monoecious, inserted upon the interior surface of a hollow, globular or pear-shaped fleshy receptacle, in whose tip is an orifice closed with small scales; those in the upper part male, the rest female. Very ornamental plants of easy culture. They are readily propagated by cuttings or eyes, having a leaf attached in the case of the evergreen species, inserted in a close frame inside a propagating house, in early spring. F. elastica is one of the most ornamental and extensively-grown species, and a plant that withstands confinement in rooms better, perhaps than any other. It is also well adapted for stove or greenhouse decoration, and for sub-tropical gardening in summer outside. Shoots 1ft. long, if furnished with leaves, soon root, and form useful plants much quicker than eyes, which, however, have the advantage of increasing a much larger quantity. Small specimens are most attractive when restricted to a single stem. These may be afterwards grown into tall branched plants if desired, by keeping them several years and pinching out the points. F. Chauvieri is a fine species that forms a large bush, even when grown in a comparatively small pot. It succeeds well in a greenhouse, and also outside in summer. Any of the species of Ficus do well in sandy loam, with addition of a little leaf soil, and only small pots, in comparison to the size of plant, need be used. plenty of syringing, or occasional sponging, will keep the leaves clean, and almost any amount of water may be applied to the roots. The species which grow on walls are the best of inside, plants that could be used for the purpose, as, once started, they soon cover a considerable space and always present a lively green appearance. For culture of F. Carica, F. acuminata (sharp-pointed). fl. perianth three-cleft or three-partite, with the segments lanceolate and acuminated. Receptacle solitary, axillary, globose, pendent, of a deep bright orange colour, somewhat mealy and tuberculated on the surface, and terminating a stalk longer than itself. l. 4in. or 5in., long, somewhat coriaceous, elliptical, petiolated, veiny glabrous above and full green, downy beneath, with the veins prominent. Stem (under cultivation in this country) 5ft. to 6ft. high. Silhet, 1833. (B. M. 3282.) F. barbata (bearded). fl. l. dark green, cordate, about 3in., long; apex elongated; edges clothed with long brown hairs. East Indies, 1832. A handsome plant for covering the walls of stoves; it has a creeping and rooting habit, similar to Ivy.
F. benjamina. Benjamin-tree. Receptacles solitary, or in pairs, globular, about 1/2in. in diameter, when ripe. l. ovate, or ovate-oblong, acuminate, shortly stalked, 2in. to 4in. long, entire, thinly coriaceous, with numerous rather fine, parallel primary veins. Tropical Asia, Australia. A large elegant greenhouse tree, with slender pendulous branches, quite glabrous. F. Brassii (Brass's).* l. somewhat fiddle-shaped, rich deep green. Stems and petioles ferruginously tomentose. Sierra Leone. A free, erect-growing species, equally suited for stove greenhouse, or sub-tropical purposes. F.Carica (Carian).* Common Fig-tree. l. simple, alternate, stipulate, palmate and sub-trilobate, rough above, pubescent beneath. h. 15ft. to 30ft. Mediterranean region, &c., 1548. For culture, &c., F. Chauvieri (Chauvier's).* l. oval-obtuse, very dark shining green, with pale yellow veins, having one or more large marginal undulations. This is described as being a noble species, with a faultless habit and, next to F. elastica, is the best for outside culture in summer.
F. comosa (tufted). Female florets pedicellate, growing amongst long, narrow, acuminate, chaffy, white scales; male florets trifid, the divisions more acute than in the female. Receptacles obovate-globose, small, the size of large peas, produced singly or more often in pairs, from the axils of the petioles on the terminal branchlets. l. very smooth and shining, dark green above, pale beneath, coriaceous and thickish, entire, with a sharp, thin, pellucid edge. Trunk rather slender, about 1ft. in diameter, soon dividing into numerous spreading, or even declining branches. Branches slender, bearing conglomerate masses of leaves towards their ends. h. 40ft. India. A very handsome greenhouse tree. (B. M. 3305.) F. Cooperi (Cooper's).* l. dark green, ovate, 1ft. or more long, 3in, to 4in. wide. Probably Australia. A good ornamental-leaved plant for either stove or greenhouse decoration.
F. dealbata (whitened).* l. elliptic, about 1ft. long by 6in. broad, coriaceous, deep green above, and, from the presence of a thick coat of silky hairs beneath, the under side is of snowy whiteness, which is particularly conspicuous in the young unfolding leaves. Peru, 1867. A very distinct and beautiful greenhouse species. (I. H. 1870, 4.) F. diversifolia (opposite-leaved).* l. leathery, rounded above, narrowed into short stalk below, upper surface bright green, dotted with light brown specks; lower pale green. A compact grower, well adapted for general decorative purposes. Greenhouse. (G. C. 1881, xvi. 247.) F. eburnea (ivory).* l. oblong-ovate, petiolate, about 15in., long, 9in. broad, bright shining green, with stout ivory-white midribs and principal veins. India, 1869. A fine free-growing greenhouse species. F. elastica (elastic).* Indiarubber Plant. l. coriaceous, 6in. to 18in. long, and 3in. to 6in. broad; upper surface dark bright shining green, yellowish-green below. East Indies, 1815. This splendid plant is very largely grown, both for indoor decoration and for sub-tropical gardening. (G. C. 1874, ii. 358.) F. e. foliis aureo-marginatis (gold-margined-leaved). A very effective variety with golden-edged leaves, especially in autumn, when it has become full-coloured. The yellow band is about 1in. broad, contrasting beautifully with the dark shining green of the center. Greenhouse. There are also other variegated forms of less value.
F. exsculpta (cut-out).* l. shortly stalked, lanceolate in outline, sinuately lobed; lobes again sinuate so as to produce a prettily cut margin. South Sea Islands, 1879. A very handsome stove evergreen, the curious crenations giving the leaf the appearance of having been stamped or punched out. See fig. 12, for which we are indebted to Mr. Wm. Bull.
F. glomerata (glomerate). l. thin, elliptic, acuminate, 6in. to 8in. long, 2in., broad, on long petioles. Stems terete, finely pubescent. Australia, 1869. A free-growing greenhouse species, of slender habit. SYN. F. vesca. F. macrophylla (large-leaved).* Australian Banyan; Moreton Bay Fig. l. thin, coriaceous, glossy, ovate-oblong, entire, cordate at the base, 4in. to 10in. 3in. to 4in. broad; veins slightly elevated on both surfaces; petioles smooth, 1in. to 2in. long. Queensland and New South Wales, 1869. Greenhouse. F. minima (smaller). See F. stipulata.
F. Parcelli (Parcell's).* l. oblong-acuminate, serrated, bright green irregularly blotched with dark green and ivory-white. polynesia, 1874. A very ornamental variegated stove plant. (F. d. S. 2273-4.) F. religiosa (religious). Peepul. l. bright green, nearly cordate; apex elongated into a tail-like process. h. 25ft. East Indies, 1731. A handsome stove plant for decorative purposes, forming itself into a compact bush. (B. E. S. 314.) F. repens (creeping). A synonym of F. stipulata.
F. Roxburghii (Roxburgh's) fl. green. fr. collected in bundles of eight to twelve near root, turnip-shaped, ribbed, villous, having umbilicus closed by numerous cordate imbricate scales. l. large smooth, roundish-cordate, three-nerved, downy on the nerves beneath. Sometimes repandly toothed. h. 20ft. Silhet, 1840. Greenhouse.( R. H. 1872, 385.) F. rubiginosa, (rusty-leaved). fl., perianth three-parted; segments roundish-oval, concave. Receptacle greenish-brown, globose, with an obtuse umbo at the point, the surface granulated with small tubercles. l. numerous, handsome, 3in. to 4in. long, coriaceous, elliptical, quite entire, on petioles about 1in. long, obtuse at the point and at the base; when young, covered, especially on the under side with a ferruginous down; the older ones are glabrous except on the nerves beneath., Branch spreading, numerous. New South Wales, 1827. A small stove tree. (B. M. 2939.) F. scandens (climbing). A synonym of F. stipulata.
F. stipulata (stipulate).* l. small, roundish, dark green. A very handsome little climber, attaching itself to walls, &c., like Ivy. It is half-hardy, and is frequently seen in greenhouse. China and Japan, 1721. SYNS. F. repens and F. scandens. (B. M. 6657.) F. minima, and other small-leaved forms, are only slender-twigged, extensively creeping states of barren young plants of F. stipulata.
F. Suringarii (Suringar's). l. large, cordate, serrate; upper surface rich dark green; main ribs deep red. Amboyna, 1866. An ornamental erect-growing stove species.
F. vesca (weak). A synonym of F. glomerata.
FIELDIA (named in honour of Baron Field, F. L. S., once Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales). ORD. Gesneraceae. An ornamental climbing, radicant, greenhouse evergreen shrub, thriving well in a compost of peat and loam, to which a little sand and small pieces of char-coal have been added. Increased by cuttings of firms side shoots, left intact, and planted in sandy soil, under a glass.
F. australis (Southern). fl. white, pendulous; corolla tubular, ventricose; peduncles axillary solitary, one-flowered. July. l. simple, opposite, remote, elliptic, coarsely serrated, acute at both ends. New South Wales, 1826. (B. M. 5089.) FIG (Ficus Carica). The Fig. as a fruit-producing tree, has been cultivated from remote antiquity. To say nothing of America and the countries of the Southern hemisphere, the cultivation of the Fig must be very ancient, and is now general from the islands of the North Atlantic eastward, through the warm temperate and sub-tropical regions eastward to China, where, on the authority of Dr. Bretschneider, it was carried on, at all events, as early as the latter part of the fourteenth century. According to various authorities, it is a native of the Mediterranean region, Syria, Eastern Persia, to Afghanistan. It has become naturalised in South-west France, &c. The exact date of its introduction into Britain remains in obscurity; and like the Vine, in all probability, it disappeared from Britain for a time. According to Pliny, it was largely cultivated by the Romans, who were possessed of a number of different sorts prior to the Christian era. The re-introduction of the Fig is said to have taken place in 1525, when Cardinal pole brought several trees from Italy, and planted them in the gardens of the Archbishop's Palace at Lambeth. Another celebrated tree was introduced from Aleppo, in 1648, by Dr. Pocock, the eminent traveller, and placed in the garden of the Regius Professor of Hebrew, at Christ Church, Oxford. In 1809, it was considerably damaged by a fire, and the large trunk decayed and was removed. A number of fresh branches, however, sprang from the root, and, in 1819, those in the center of the tree were 21ft. high., It is remarkable that a tree with wood of such a soft nature should live to the age of even several centuries in climates suitable to its growth. In Britain, when unprotected, the Fig is sometimes killed to the ground by very severe frosts, but becomes re-established by the production of suckers from the roots; at other times, the points of the shoots are destroyed by frost less severe. The fresh fruit does not find general favour in this country, partly because successful culture involves the necessity of heated glass structures in most districts, and the very limited time it remains in good condition when ripe., The skin is also extremely tender, and thus the fruits are among the worst for packing to travel any distance In Sussex and other mild districts along the South Coast, the tree will grow as a standard, but it will not succeed as such further inland. The generally necessary situation is a wall with a south or southwest aspect; but in places where the summers are hot and very sharp frosts or rare occurrence, Fig-tress may be grown as espaliers being easily protected in winter as much as would be required. The Fig. possesses the extraordinary property of producing two, and in some climates, under most favourable conditions, three crops in a year. The fruit supply being thus extended over such a lengthened period, becomes to the people of the East. where the trees are much grown, an important source of food, both in a fresh and in a dried state. The annual importation to this country alone of some hundreds of tons of dried Figs, is an indication of the quantity cultivated, and the crops secured. The same article also forms one of considerable commerce in Italy, Spain. Provence, and in some parts of France.
As it is not generally understood, it may be interesting to state here that the flowers of the Fig are unisexual, and produced in large quantities inside a fleshy receptacle that is closely united and almost closed at the summit. The female flowers are most numerous, and situated on the bottom and greater part of the inside of the receptacle. On these becoming fertilised-a condition not absolutely essential with all for the ripening of the fruit-each becomes a seed, which is surrounded with pulp, and these, with the receptacle, form the fruit as shown i Fig. 14. An idea of the enormous quantity of seeds contained in a fruit may be obtained by examining an imported dried specimen. PROPAGATION. This is easily effected in various ways-be seed, cuttings, layers, and suckers, also by grafting.
Seed. Propagation by this method is not much practised, but is sometimes adopted with a view to raising, from the sorts which succeed best in this country, other new and, perhaps, hardier varieties than those introduced from warmer climates. The seed, if required, should be carefully cleaned from the pulp of some of the finest and ripest fruits and kept till January, when it should be sown on as rapidly as possible as on this mainly depends the time taken in obtaining the first fruit.
Cuttings, &c. The best cuttings are short-jointed growths of the previous year, from 6in. to 9in. in length; if with a heel, so much the better. They may be inserted in pots, and placed in bottom heat, in early spring Some prefer selecting them in autumn, and laying the ends in the ground all winter, providing protection for the part exposed. Whether treated in this way or taken directly from the plants and inserted, they generally root freely, and, if grown on in heat, soon form good plants. Propagation by layers is a quick method of obtaining fruiting plants in a limited time, as good-sized branches with fruiting wood may be successfully rooted in one season, and may be then be detached from the parent. Suckers are freely produced where allowed, and may also be grown into plants; but, on account of the wood in these being invariably very soft they are inferior to those grown either from cuttings or lawyers. Grafting is practicable if desired, the scions being cut in autumn, laid in the ground all winter, and inserted, soon after the stock commences its growth, in spring. Figs being so easily increased by the other means above named, this method is but little adopted.
CULTIVATION The Fig will grow in almost any soil; but if too rich, the chances are that a great production of wood and not much fruit will be the result. The best crops outside are usually secured from trees planted in a border composed of loam and brick rubbish, by the side of a hard walk, into which the roots can scarcely penetrate. If this is not practicable, they must be occasionally restricted by root-pruning, or by some other means, such as a narrow wall division under-ground. Good drainage is essential, and chalk is one of the best things to use where it can be procured. An open warm position should be selected, as this, and root restriction, are important points towards encouraging the production of short-jointed, fruit-bearing wood. The climate of this country will not admit of more than one crop being ripened each year outside, and this is by no means a certain one in the majority of instances. During severe weather, the stem and branches require protection. This is afforded in various ways, some unnailing and collecting the latter in bundles, and covering with a thick coat of straw or mats. Spruce branches, fern, thatched hurdles, and canvas, may all be made to answer the same purpose. Neither is necessary, as a rule, along the South Coast, and should not be applied in other places, unless in severe weather, and then they should be removed gradually in spring.
Mode of Bearing, Pruning, &c. The fruits are produced, one or two together, in the axils of the leaves. They are formed along the branch, as growth proceeds, and, with but few exceptions, come to maturity, if at all, on new or recently ripened wood. It will thus be understood that the points of the shoots must, as much as possible, be protected from frost, and preserved when pruning. Growth seldom begins outside before May; the embryo Figs on the wood of the previous year, and new shoots for the next year, starting almost simultaneously. Fruits will also be formed along the latter, and these constitute the second crop, that ripens in some parts of the South of Europe, but in this country the summers are too short. Any fruits that are sufficiently advanced in early autumn to show the shape of the Fig, are of no use; and if these are carefully pinched off, other later ones may be formed by the side, that remain dormant with those produced nearer the points, as before explained, until the tree starts the following year. Pruning is not much required, except to keep the branches thinned; and a good deal of this, also pinching of the strongest shoots, should be seen to in summer, so as to leave only those required for fruiting. Too much pruning frequently results in the increase of soft, unproductive wood, especially if the roots are in anything like rich soil. New shoots should be encouraged from parts near the stem, where they are required to replace any that become bare or exceed their limits. Either the horizontal or the fan system of training is that usually adopted as being best suited for trees having to be grown on walls, or as espaliers. Suckers proceed in large quantities from the roots of permanent trees; these are sometimes trained about 15in. apart, and in course of time allowed to fruit. This plan is not to be recommended, as better wood may be obtained from healthy branches.