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Origins and History of Fig Trees
Historical information of fig trees including the Black Mission fig tree
Ancient Fig Trees Through History
Copyright © 2006 Patrick Malcolm
The fig tree, 'Ficus carica,' possibly originated in Northern
Asia according to archeological fossil records. Spanish
missionaries brought it to the United States in 1520. Historical
Sumerian tablets record the use and consumption of figs in 2500
BC.
In Greek mythology, the fig figures prominently as a gift of
Demeter to Dionysus and as having received the blessing and
sanctity of the Greek Gods. Plato documented that Greek athletes
at Olympia were fed diets of figs to increase their running speed
and overall strength. The figs contained up to 50% concentration
of sugar which was virtually like feeding the athlete a candy
bar.
The most famous Biblical reference to figs is that, in which
Jesus cursed a fig tree for not producing any fruit for him as he
passed by, a curse that killed the fig tree, Matt 21:18
The Jewish King, Hezekiah, was cured of a life-threatening plague
by applying figs to the infected spot. 2 Kings 20 The Apostle,
James, brother of Jesus, used the metaphor of the fig tree to
describe the appropriate behavior that he expected to follow from
Christian living. James 3:12 Fig leaves were used in the early
church to hide the genitalia of nude, marble sculptures that
adorned religious buildings. Fig trees were also used in ancient
history as shade trees and to chop and use as quick start
firewood.
Cooked figs were used as sweeteners in ancient times and this
practice is still used in many third world countries in Asia
Minor. The figs contain over 50% sugar. Hybrid figs contain many
hollow, tiny seeds on the interior of the fruit, similar in taste
as those found in blueberries and strawberries. A fig fruit has a
round tiny opening at the base of the fig called an 'eye.' A
tiny wasp flies into the interior of the fig and pollinates the
tiny flowers lining the interior walls of the fig. These tiny
seed are not generally digested by the stomach and offer a great
laxative effect to the elderly sedentary citizens. American
hybrid figs do not require or receive pollination to be
transformed into edible fruit.
Fig trees in Europe can grow to a tremendous height of 100 feet,
but the fruit is very difficult to harvest when the tree grows
taller than 10 feet.
In harvesting the figs, it is important to pick the fruit from
the tree, when it is completely mature--usually when it sags,
droops, and changes color. If the figs are taken from the tree
prematurely, the sweetness declines, but more importantly, if the
figs are removed in the juvenile developing state, a white milky
fluid exudes from the stem, which is transferred to a person's
hands and then eyes or mouth, the fluid is very irritating and
should be washed away as quickly as possible.
One of the most famous figs in the United States is the "Black
Mission" fig tree, which was named after the California,
Franciscan mission that dates back to 1770, when it was planted
there and cultivated on a commercial scale.
Perhaps the most famous product of figs is the fig newton that
uses dried figs placed between curved, sweet wafers and
distributed by Nabisco. In Europe, figs are gathered from
commercial fig tree orchards where they are sized, graded, and
packed to sell as fresh fruit at local markets. Figs are easily
dried after harvesting from the trees, and various brands are
popularly sold throughout the world, because of their extended
shelf life in the United States, California is the largest
producer of figs and most of them are marketed as dried figs. In
the South figs are boiled in sugar liquid, sometimes adding
strawberries and the resulting fig preserves are eaten during the
fall and winter months as fig preserves on hot buttered biscuits.
The trees grow into picturesque specimens in many landscapes. The
trunks are often whitewashed when young in order to keep the sun
from scalding the tender bark. The roots are vigorous growers and
will grow far away from the canopy; however, trimming these roots
does not damage the tree.
Fig trees grown in full sun have soft wood that break easily. The
trees easily grow to 100 feet in Europe but usually less than 30
feet in the United States. Fertilizing fig trees on most soils is
unnecessary and unwise, because nitrogen fertilizer tends to
promote aggressive branch growth and will reduce the size of the
crop. If too much nitrogen is applied, the fruit does not mature
properly and the fruit has an off taste.
The first crop of figs that matures in the spring is called the
"breba" crop and the next and tastiest crop matures in the fall.
Figs are harvested from the trees from June till October,
although some new cultivars will be ready for eating in April.
The shelf life for freshly picked figs is short and fig generally
last only about three days in refrigeration. A fig should not be
picked from a tree, if it is over ripe or mushy, since it will
begin souring from fermentation. At this point figs will lose
their roundness and begin to collapse inward. When a fig is
harvested from a tree, it should be soft to the touch and a very
firm fig will not ripen properly, if it is picked at this
immature stage.
The beautiful leaves of the fig tree are used to make an odd
scented perfume with the aroma of wood or musk. The white, milky
latex from the tree can be used as a meat tenderizer or in making
cheese, if the latex is dried and powdered. Figs can be frozen
whole or sliced in plastic bags or jars and expected to last
satisfactorily for one year. Dried figs can be soaked in warm
water to restore their shape and softness. Fruit of figs is high
in iron, calcium, potassium, and fiber, and they are used as a
diuretic and a laxative.
Figs contain protein digesting enzymes and can be used as a meat
tenderizer and a taste enhancer. Dried figs are often used to
substitute for recipes calling for dried apricots, dates, or
prunes.
Fig trees are considered to be about as cold hardy as citrus;
however, recent hybrid cultivars show that fig trees can survive
temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit for limited periods of
time, and if the tree freezes to the ground, the new shoots will
sprout in the spring to rapidly renew the fig tree.
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Written by: Patrick Malcolm. Learn more about various plants,
or purchase ones mentioned in this article by visiting the
author's website: http://www.tytyga.com
============================================================
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