PAR. LOST, Book ix. l. 1100.
The Banian-tree, or Indian fig, is perhaps the most beautiful of Nature's productions in that genial climate, where she sports with the greatest profusion and variety. Some of these trees are of amazing size and great extent, as they are continually increasing, and, contrary to most other things in animal and vegetable life, they seem to be exempted from decay. Every branch from the main body throws out its own roots; at first, in small tender fibres, several yards from the ground; these continually grow thicker until they reach the surface; and there striking in, they increase to large trunks, and become parent trees, shooting out new branches from the top: these in time suspend their roots, which, swelling into trunks, produce other branches; thus continuing in a state of progression as long as the earth, the first parent of them all, contributes her sustenance. The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of the Banian-tree; they look upon it as an emblem of the Deity, from its long duration, its out-stretching arms, and overshadowing beneficence; they almost pay it divine honours, and,
"Find a face in every sacred grove."
Near these trees the most esteemed pagodas are generally erected; under their shade the Brahmins spend their lives in religious solitude; and the natives of all castes and tribes are fond of recreating in the cool recesses, beautiful walks, and lovely vistas of this umbrageous canopy, impervious to the hottest beams of a tropical sun.
A remarkable large tree of this kind grows on an island in the river Nerhedda, ten miles from the city of Baroche in the province of Guzerat, a flourishing settlement lately in possession of the East India company, but ceded by the government of Bengal, at the treaty of peace concluded with the Mahrattas in 1783, to Mahdajee Scindia a Mahratta chief. It is distinguished by the name of Cubbeer Burr, which was given it in honour of a famous saint. It was once much larger than at present; but high floods have carried away the banks of the island where it grows, and with them such parts of the tree as had thus far extended their roots: yet what remains is about 2000 feet in circumference, measured round the principal stems; the
over-hanging branches, not yet struck down, cover a much larger space. The chief trunks of this single tree (which in size greatly exceed our English elms and oaks), amount to 350; the smaller stems, forming into stronger supporters, are more than 3000; and every one of these is casting out new branches, and hanging roots, in time to form trunks, and become the parents of a future progeny. Cubbeer Burr is famed throughout Hindostan for its great extent and surpassing beauty: the Indian armies generally encamp around it; and, at stated seasons, solemn jatarras, or Hindoo festivals, are held there, to which thousands of votaries repair from various parts of the Mogul empire. It is said that 7000 persons find ample room to repose under its shade. The English gentlemen, on their hunting and shooting parties, used to form extensive encampments, and spend weeks together under this delightful pavilion, which is generally filled with green wood pigeons, doves, peacocks, and a variety of feathered songsters; crowded with families of monkeys performing their antic tricks; and shaded by bats of a large size, many of them measuring upwards of six feet from the extremity of one wing to the other. This tree not only affords shelter, but sustenance, to all its inhabitants, being covered amid its bright foliage with small figs of a rich scarlet, on which they all regale with as much delight, as the lords of creation on their more costly fare in their parties.
Culture. The carica is the species of ficus most frequently cultivated in this country, and the only one which does not require to be kept in a stove. It may be propagated either by suckers arising from the roots by layers, or by cuttings. The suckers are to be taken off as low down as possible; trim off any ragged part at bottom, leaving the tops entire, especially if for standards; and plant them in nursery-lines at two or three feet distance from each other, or they may at once be planted where they are to remain; observing, that if they are designed for walls or espaliers, they may be headed to six or eight inches in March, the more effectually to force out lateral shoots near the bottom; but, if intended for standards, they must not be topped, but trained with a stem, not less than 15 or 18 inches for dwarf-standards, a yard for half-standards, and four, five, or six feet for full standards. Then they must be suffered to branch out to form a head; observing, that, whether against walls, espaliers, or standards, the branches or shoots must never be shortened unless to procure a necessary supply of wood: for the fruit is always produced on the upper parts of the young shoots; and if these are cut off, no fruit can be expected.—The best season for propagating these trees by layers is in autumn; but it may be also done any time from October to March or April. Choose the young pliable lower shoots from the fruitful branches: lay them in the usual way, covering the body of the layers three or four inches deep in the ground, keeping the top entire, and as upright as possible; and they will be rooted and fit to separate from the parent in autumn; when they may be planted either in the nursery, or where they are to remain, managing them as above directed. The time for propagating by cuttings is either in autumn at the fall of the leaf, or any time in March: choose well-ripened shoots of the preceding summer; short, and of robust growth, from about 12 to 15 inches long; having an inch or two of the two-years wood at their base, the tops left entire; and plant
them six or eight inches deep, in a bed or border of good earth, in rows two feet asunder: and when planted in autumn, it will be eligible to protect their tops in time of hard frost, the first winter, with any kind of long loose litter.
That part of the history of the fig-tree, which for many ages was so enigmatical, namely, the capricification, as it is called, is particularly worthy of attention, not only as a singular phenomenon in itself, but as it has furnished one of the most convincing proofs of the reality of the sexes of plants. In brief it is this: The flowers of the fig-tree are situated within a pulpy receptacle, which we call the fig or fruit: of these receptacles, in the wild fig-tree, some have male flowers only, and others have male and female, both distinct, though placed in the same receptacle. In the cultivated fig, these are found to contain only female flowers; which are fecundated by means of a kind of gnat bred in the fruit of the wild fig-trees, which pierces that of the cultivated, in order to deposit its eggs within; at the same time diffusing within the receptacle the farina of the male flowers. Without this operation the fruit may ripen, but no effective seeds are produced: hence the garden fig can only be propagated by layers and cuttings, in those countries where the wild fig is not known. The process of thus ripening the fruit, in the oriental countries, is not left to nature, but is managed with great art, and different degrees of dexterity, so as to reward the skillful husbandman with a much larger increase of fruit than would otherwise be produced. A tree of the same size, which, in Provence, where capricification is not practiced, may produce about 25 pounds of fruit, will, by that art, in the Grecian islands, bring ten times that quantity. See the article CAPRICIFICATION.
Uses. Figs are a considerable article in the materia medica, chiefly employed in emollient cataplasms and pectoral decoctions. The best are those which come from Turkey. Many are also brought from the south of France, where they prepare them in the following manner. The fruit is first dipped in scalding hot lye made of the ashes of the fig-tree, and then dried in the sun. Hence these figs stick to the hands, and scour them like lixivial salts; and for the same reason they excite to stool, without griping. They are moderately nutrimental, grateful to the stomach, and easier to digest than any other of the sweet fruits. They have been said to produce lice when eaten as a common food; but this seems to be entirely without foundation. The reason of this supposition seems to be, that in the countries where they grow naturally, they make the principal food of the poor people, who are generally troubled with these vermin. The wood of the fycamore is not subject to rot; and has therefore been used for making of coffins, in which embalmed bodies were put. Mr Hasselquist affirms, that he saw in Egypt coffins made of this kind of wood, which had been preserved found for 2000 years.