Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

February, 1955] Condit: Fig Varieties
361
Lindley (1831), Holley (1854), Dochnahl (1855), Sauvaigo (1889, 1894), Eisen (1896, 1897,
1901), Bois (1928), Condit (1921b, 1947), Evreinoff (1947), and Tamaro (1948). Illustrated
by Eisen (1901) and Condit (1921b).
According to Gallesio, the Gentile fig is the same variety recorded by Pliny as
Tiburtina. Aldrovandi called it Gentilium. It was highly praised by Gallesio, who said it
well deserved the name it bears, Gentile, or “delicate”; he added that he knew of no
other variety which produced brebas equal to it in beauty, delicacy, and flavor. Figs of
the second crop, according to Gallesio, reached a certain size, then shriveled and
dropped. Sauvaigo reported that the Gentile tree bears two crops, but that figs of the
second crop are not edible, since they drop before they mature. Trees are commonly
found from Naples to Toscana and along the Italian Riviera. The Gentile described by
Simonet is regarded by them as identical with Dottato.
According to Eisen, two cuttings of the Gentile were found at San Leandro,
California, in 1852. They were planted in a nursery, and one later developed into a
large tree. The original plant died, but a cutting from it, planted on the Kimball place,
1859 Hoover Street, Hayward, is still growing and producing brebas each year. Other
trees were reported by Eisen at Alameda and at Knights Ferry. P.I. No. 18,899 of the
Chiswick collection is listed as Gentile, but no California records have been located as to
behavior of trees from that introduction. In coastal districts, the Gentile is similar in
external fruit characters to the King, but is much inferior to that variety in color and
texture of pulp and in eating quality. Gentile is not recommended for dooryard
planting, since trees of certain other varieties bear not only brebas but also main-crop
figs without caprification.
The tree is vigorous, and reaches large size, with lower branches drooping. Leaves
are large, and 3-lobed. Description of brebas is after that of Eisen, and from specimens
produced by the tree at Hayward.
Breba crop fair to good; fruits above medium to large; body spherical, with short,
thick neck; stalk very short; ribs not prominent; eye large, protruding, open, scales
rose-colored; surface glossy, with delicate bloom; white flecks prominent, numerous;
color green; pulp amber to light strawberry; flavor sweet, fairly rich; seeds few; quality
good. No description of caprified second-crop figs is available.
Comparison of the fruits and fruiting habits of Gentile and White San Pedro leads
to the conclusion that these two Italian varieties are very similar, and that they may be
identical.
Khdari. Described and illustrated by Grasovsky and Weitz (1932) as found in all
parts of Palestine, where it is grown especially for the fresh fruit market. The name
signifies “green.”
Trees are very distinctive in shape, with dark-green leaves.
The “daffour” (breba) crop is exceptionally good; brebas large, up to 3 inches in
diameter, oblate-spherical; neck missing; stalk short; eye open, with brownish scales;
skin thin, green; pulp light strawberry, very juicy; flavor sweet and rich. Not used for
drying.
King. The exact origin and identity of the King fig have not been determined.
About 1930, cuttings from a fig tree growing near Madera, California, were planted by