Ontario Fruit Explorers

["joe calico" <jcalico@sympatico.ca>]

Tom, surely you didn't type that entire chapter XVIII onto the email
below.  Is this off of some web site or what?
Joe C

-----Original Message-----
From: labruscagrape-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:labruscagrape-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Thomas
Olenio
Sent: July 26, 2006 10:33 AM
To: labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [OFEX] Ancient Figs - Pliny


Hi Bert,

This may interest you...  Pliny wrote on figs too.  He discusses how to

use wild figs to help ripen domestic figs by making use of the insects  
that infect wild figs.  Tom

===
CHAP. XVIII.

Of Figs, 29 sorts of them.

Of all other fruits which have tender pils or skins, and are called in  
Latine, Poma, Figs are the biggest:68 for some of them are found to be
as  
great as Peares. As touching the Sycomor of Ægypt and Cypres, and of
their  
admirable fruit, we have written ynough in the treatise of forraine  
Trees.69 The Idæan Figs that come from the mountaine Ida, are of colour

red, of the bignesse of Olives, onely rounder they be, & in tast
resemble  
Medlars. In the region about Troas neare unto the said hill Ida, they
call  
that fig-tree Alexandrina. It is as thicke as a mans arme about at the  
cubite or elbow, and full of braunches: the wood thereof is tough and  
strong, howbeit, pliable to wind and bend which way a man would have it.

Void of milkie substance it is, clad with a greene barke, bearing leaves

like the Tillet or Linden tree, but that they be soft. Onesicritus  
writeth, that the Fig-trees in Hycania beare more pleasant fruit than
ours  
in Italie, without all comparison: also that they carie a greater
burden,  
and be farre more plentifull, insomuch, as one of them doth ordinarily  
yeeld 270 Modij of Figs. We have here also in Italie many Fig-trees  
brought out of other forraine countries, to wit, from Chalcis and Chios:

whereof there be many sorts. For both our Lydian Figs which are of a  
reddish purple colour, and also the Mamillane or teat-Figs, have a  
resemblance of the said Chalcidian and Chian figs, yea, and the  
Callistruthion Figs beyond others not a little, in goodnesse of tast:
and  
these of all the rest are the coldest. For as touching the Affricane
Figs,  
which many men prefer before all others, they hold the name of Affricke,

as if it were their native countrey: and yet there is a great question  
thereabout, and I wot not well what to say thereof, considering that it
is  
not long agoe that Affricke begun first to have Fig-trees. For the  
Alexandrine Figs are of the blacke kind, having a white rift or chamfre,

and are surnamed Delicate. The Rhodian Fig is likewise blacke of hue:
and  
so is the Tiburtine, which also is of the hastie kind, and ripe before  
others.

Moreover, there be certaine Figges which beare the names of those that  
brought them first into Italie: namely, the Livian and Pompeian, and
such  
are fittest to bee dried in the Sunne, and so to be kept all the yeare  
long for a mans use: like as the illfavoured, foolish, and gaping Figges

Mariscae:70 as also those that are speckled with spots like the leaves
of  
the Laconian reeds.

There are besides the Herculanean, Albicerate, and Aratian white Figs,  
which of all other are most flat and broadest, and withall have the
least  
taile or steee whereby they hang. The Porphyrite Figs first shew upon
the  
tree, and ordinarily are longest tailed. The smallest Figs called the  
popular Figs, which also are of all others the basest and of least  
account, come next after and beare the Porphyrites companie.
Contrariwise,  
the Chelidonian Figges be the last: and ripen against Winter.

Moreover, certaine Figs there be which are both early, and also
lateward:  
namely, such as bear twice a yeare: and be both blacke and white: for
they  
are ripe first in harvest, and afterwards, in time of vintage. Late also

it is before the Duracinæ be ripe, so called of the hard skin which they

have.71 Also some there be of the Chalcidian kind which beare thrice a  
yeare. At Tarentum there grow none but such as are exceeding sweet, and

those they call Omas72 [or rather Oenadas, tasting of wine.]

Cato in his treatise of Figs writeth thus,73 The unsavorie Fig dotes,  
Mariscae, would be sowne in an open, light, and chalkie ground. But the

Affricane, Herculane, and the Winter Saguntine Figges, as also the  
Telliane74 (which are blacke and long tailed) love a fatter soile, or
else  
well dunged.

After this, Figges have chaunged into so many kinds, and altered their  
names very often: in such sort, that by this point it is evident, how
the  
world is altered, and to what varietie this life is subject. In some  
provinces, as namely in Moesia, there be winter Figs that hang all
Winter  
long: but they come to be such, more by art and cunning, than naturally
of  
themselves. For so soone as Autumne is passed, and Winter approacheth,  
they use to cover with dung certaine little fig-trees which they have,
and  
together with them the greene yong Figs which they find upon them in  
Winter: and when they have continued so the sharpe time of dead Winter,
so  
soone as the weather beginneth to be more warme and temperate, they  
discharge both fruit and tree of their dung: which being thus let out  
againe (as it were) where they seemed buried, and now comming to light;

they no sooner find the fresh aire, and another kind of nourishment  
differing from that, whereby they lived, but doe embrace and receive the

comfort of the new Sunne most greedily, as if they were new born and  
revived: in such sort, as that in Moesia, notwithtanding it be a most
cold  
region, ye shall have the figs of these trees to ripen when others begin

to blossome: and by this meanes become early and hastie figs in another

yeare.

Now for as much as we are fallen to mention the figs in Affricke, which

were in so great request in the time of Cato, I am put in mind to speake

soemwhat of that notable opportunitie and occasion, which by the meanes
of  
that fruit he tooke for to root out the Carthaginians, and rase their
very  
citie. For as he was a man who hated deadly that citie, & was otherwise

carefull to provide for the quiet and securitie of his posteritie, he
gave  
not over at every sitting of the Senate, to importune the Senators of  
Rome, and to crie out in their eares, That they would resolve and take  
order to destroy Carthage. And in very truth, one day above the rest, he

brought with him into the Senate house an early or hastie fig which came

out of that countrey: and shewing it before all the lords of the Senate,
I  
would demaund of you (quoth he) how long agoe it is (as you think) since

this figge was gathered from the tree? And when none of them could denie

but that it was fresh and new gotten. Lo (quoth he) my maisters all,
this  
I doe you to weet, It is not yet full three daies past, since this figge

was gathered at Carthage: see how neare to the wals of our cittie, wee  
have a mortall enemie.75 Upon which remonstrance of his, presently they

concluded to begin the third and last Punicke warre, wherein Carthage
was  
utterly subverted and overthrowne. Howbeit, Cato survived not the rasing

and saccage of Carthage, for he died the yeare immediatly following this

resolution. But what shall we say of this man? whether was more
admirable  
in this act, his provident care and promptnesse of spirit; or the
occasion  
presented by the suddaine object of the fig? was the present resolution

and forward expedition of the Senate, or the vehement earnestnesse of  
Cato, more effectuall to this enterprise? Certes, somewhat there is
above  
all, and nothing in mine opinion more wonderfull, that so great a
signorie  
and state as Carthage, which had contended for the Empire of the world
for  
the space of a hundred and twentie years, & that, with the great  
conquerors of the Romanes, should thus be ruined and brought to nought,
by  
occasion of one fig. A desseigne, that neither the fields lost at Trebia

and Thrasymenus, nor the disgrace received at the battell of Canna,  
wherein so many brave Romanes lost their lives and left their dead
bodies  
on the ground to be enterred,76 could never effect: nay not the disdain

that they tooke to see the Carthaginians encamped and fortified within  
three miles of Rome, ne yet the bravadoes of Anniball in peson riding  
before the gate Collina, even to dare them, could ever bring to passe.77

See how Cato by the meanes of one poore fig, prevailed to bring and  
present the forces of Rome to the very wals of Carthage.

There is a fig-tree called Navia, honoured with great reverence, in the

common Forum and publicke place of justice at Rome,78 even where the  
solemne assemblies are held for elections of magistrates neare to the  
Curia, under the old shops called Veteres: as if the gods had
consecrated  
it for that purpose: neare (I say) it is to the Tribunall named Puteal  
Libonis, & planted there by Actius Navius the Augur, where the sacred  
reliques of his miracle, to wit, the Rasour and the Whetstone, were  
solemnely enterred: as if it came of the owne accord from the said Curia

into the Comitium, and had not been set by Navius. This tree if it begin

at any time to wither, there is another replanted by the Priests, who
that  
way are very carefull & ceremonious. But a greater respect there is had
of  
another in remembrance of the first fig-tree named Ruminalis (as it were
)  
the nource of Romulus & Remus, the two young prince fondlings, and  
founders also of the citie of Rome: for that under it was found a shee  
Wolfe giving to those little babes the teat (which in Latine they called

Rumen:) and for a memoriall hereof there is a monument of Brasse erected

neare unto it, representing that straunge and wonderfull storie. There  
grew also a third fig-tree before the temple of Saturne, which in the  
yeare 26079 after the foundation of the citie of Rome, was taken away:
at  
what time as a chappell was built there by the Vestal nuns, and an  
expiatorie sacrifice offered, for that it overthrew the image of
Sylvanus.  
There is a tree of the same kind yet living, which came to grow of it  
selfe, no man knoweth how, in the middest of the Forum Romanum, and that

in the very place where was the deepe chinke and gaping of the ground,  
that menaced the ruine of the Romane Empire, which fatall and
portentious  
gulfe, the renowned knight Curtius filled up with the best things that  
were to be found in the citie, to wit, his Vertue & Pietie incomparable,

testified by a most brave and glorious death.80 In the very same place  
likewise there is an Olive and a Vine, which came thither by as meere a

chaunce, but afterwards well looked and trimmed by the whole people for
to  
enjoy of the shade thereof. And there also stood an altar, which  
afterwards was taken away by occasion of the solemne shew of  
sword-fencers, which Iulius Cæsar late Emperour, exhibited to doe the  
people pleasure, which were the last that plaied their prices and fought

at the sharpe in the said Forum.81 To conclude, wonderfull it is to see,

how the fruit of this tree maketh hast to ripe: a man would say that  
Nature therein sheweth all her skill and force to ripen figs all
together  
at once.

CHAP. XIX.

Of the wild Fig-trees: and of caprification.

There is a kind of wild fig trees, which the Latines call Caprificus,
that  
never bringeth any fruit to maturitie: but that which it selfe hath not,

it procureth to others, and causeth them to ripen. For such is the  
interchangeable course & passage of causes in Nature, that as this thing

putrifieth, that engendreth; and the corruption of one is the generation

of another. By this it comes to passe, that the wild fig-tree breedeth  
certaine flies or gnats within the fruit thereof: which wanting  
nourishment, and not having to feed upon in those figs, because they  
become rotten and putrified as they hang upon the tree, they flie unto
the  
other kind of gentle and tame fig-trees, where they settle upon the
figs,  
and greedily nibble thereupon, untill they have made way, and pierced
unto  
them; and by that means let in at first the breath of the warme Sunne,
and  
that comfortable and vegetative aire besides, that helpeth to ripen
them.  
Soone after they sucke up and spend the milkie humor which they find  
there, and which keepeth the figs still as it were in their infancie,
and  
hindereth their speedie and timely maturitie. True it is, that the figs
in  
time would ripen of themselves by the power and benefite of Nature
onely:  
howbeit, skilfull and industrious husbandmen take order alwaies to set  
these wild fig-trees near to the place where other fig-trees grow, but  
with due regard of the wind wide, that when the foresaid gnats breake  
forth and are readie to flie out, a blast of wind might carie them to
the  
other. And hereupon came the devise and invention to bring whole swarmes

and casts of them as they hang one to another, from other places, that  
they might settle upon the figs to consume the raw moisture within. Now,

if the soile be leane and hungrie, and the fig-trees growing thereupon  
exposed to the North wind, there is no such need of this help: for the  
figs will drie sufficiently of themselves, by reason as well of the  
situation of the place, aas the clifts & rifts in them, which will
effect  
that which the gnats or flies abovenamed might performe. The like effect

is to be seene also where much dust is, namely, if a fig-tree grow neare

unto an hihgh way, much frequented and travelled by passengers. For the

nature of dust is to drie and soke up the superfluous moisture of the  
milke within figges. And therefore when they are thus dried, whether it
be  
by the meanes of dust, or of the said flies feeding, which is called  
Caprification, they fall not from the tree so easily: by reason they are

discharged of that liquid substance, which maketh them both tender and  
also ponderous, weightie, and brittle withall.

All figges ordinarily are tender and soft in handling. Those which be  
ripe, have small graines within them: their succulent substance besides,

when they begin to ripen, is white like milke: but when they are
perfectly  
ripe, it is of the colour of honie. They will hang upon the tree untill

they be old: and when they are aged, they yeeld a certain liquor which  
distilleth from them in manner of a gum, and then in the end become
drie.

The better sort of figges have this honour and priviledge, to be kept in

boxes and cases for the purpose: and principally those that come for the

Isle Ebusus, which of all others are the very best and largest: yea, and

next to them those that grow in the Marrucines countrey.82 But where
they  
are in more plentie, they put them up in great vessels called Orcæ,83 as

namely in Asia: also in barrels and pipes, as at Ruspina a citie in  
Barbarie. And in very truth, the people of those countries make that use

of them when they be drie, that they serve both for bread and meat.84
For  
Cato setting downe an order for diet and victual fit and sufficient for

labourers, ordained, that they should be cut short of their other  
pittance, when figs are ripe, and make up their full meales with it.85
And  
it is not long since the manner came up, to eat fresh new figges with
salt  
and poudered meats, in stead of cheese. And for to be eaten in this
sort,  
the figges called Coctana, (wherof we have written before86) and the
dried  
figs Caricæ are commended: as also the Cauneæ, which when M. Crassus  
should embarke, in that expedition against the Parthians (wherein hee
was  
slaine) presaged ill fortune, and warned him not to go forward: namely,

when at the very instant that he was readie to set foot a shipbourd,
there  
was a fellow heard to crie those figs for to be sold, pronouncing alowd,

Cauneas, Cauneas; which word in short speaking was all one with Cave ne

eas, [i. Beware of this voiage, and goe it not.]87 All these sorts of  
figs, L. Vitellius brought out of Syria, unto his ferme or manour that
he  
had neare Alba, having been L. governour or Lieutenant generall in those

parts, namely, in the latter end of Tyberius Cæsar the Emperour: and the

same Vitellius was afterward Censor at Rome.


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.3/395 - Release Date:
07/21/2006

_______________________________________________
LabruscaGrape mailing list
LabruscaGrape@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/labruscagrape