Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

436 Hilgardia
[Vol. 23, No. 11
Djerbi. Described by Minangoin (1931) from Hammamet, Tunisia. Leaves small, 3-
lobed, or sometimes almost nonlobed; sinuses hardly prominent. Figs oblate-spherical,
sessile; eye open; color dark violet; pulp brown; seeds numerous.
Doctor Hogg Black. According to Eisen (1901), this variety was found by Hogg near
Toulouse, France. It bore figs almost black, with red pulp. (See note under
Franciscana.)
D’Or Bifère. Described by Barron (1891) and Eisen (1901, after Barron) as a small,
ovate fig; color greenish yellow, suffused with brown; pulp blood red, rich and juicy.
D’Or de Baume. Described by Hogg (1866) and Eisen (1888, 1901, after Hogg). Figs
medium, oblong; ribs distinct; stalk short; eye open; color hazel-brown; pulp rosy to
amber; quality excellent.
Early Violet. Described by Thompson (1859), Hogg (1866), G. S. (1869), Coleman
(1887b), Massey (1893), Wythes (1890a, 1893), Shinn (1893), Wright (1895), Hansen
(1894), Eisen (1897, 1901), Price and White (1902), and by Starnes and Monroe (1907).
Illustrated by Price, Eisen, and by Starnes and Monroe. In his account of Early Violet,
Thompson referred to the description of Thomas Rivers, who probably introduced the
variety into England and gave it a name. It was reported to be especially good for
forcing in pots, as the tree ripened three crops in a season. Hogg stated: “Though small
and in the estimation of some, an insignificant variety, this is among figs what the Red
Masculine is among apricots, and the Red Nutmeg among peaches—a nicely flavoured,
very early, and remarkably prolific fig.”
The California Nursery Company, Niles, listed and described Early Violet in its
catalogue for 1889-1890. During the next few years, it was tested at the California
Experiment Stations and found to be early, but with fruit too small for commercial
planting. Cuttings were obtained from Crisfield, Maryland, in 1940, and from the
Custis estate near Cape Charles, Virginia, in 1943, and grafted in the variety orchard at
Riverside. Very few, if any, brebas have been produced, and second-crop figs are
smaller than those of any other variety in the collection. Many figs shrivel and drop
when small.
Leaves small, thin, dull on upper surface lobes mostly three; upper sinuses shallow;
base subcordate to truncate; margins crenate. Badly affected by mosaic, which dwarfs
both leaves and fruit. Description of fruit is compiled from various sources; and from
specimens grown at Riverside.
Brebas none. Second-crop figs small to very small, 1 inch long by 1-1/4 inches in
diameter; average weight 9.2 grams; shape turbinate to oblate spherical; stalk slender,
up to 3/4 inch long, somewhat enlarged toward body of fruit; ribs prominent, more
darkly colored than body; eye large, open, scales rose; bloom delicate; color chocolatebrown;
pulp strawberry; seeds small; quality fair. Susceptible to spoilage. Reported by
Eisen as preferable to the Ischias and Celeste; trees now very rare in the southern
United States, in comparison with the latter variety. (Plate 27, E.)
Eva. Name applied locally in the Union of South Africa to a variety producing small
to medium fruits, purplish brown in color; pulp pinkish amber, slightly hollow. It
resembles Common Brown, Kaapse Bruin (Cape Brown), and Black Sugar in the