The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-11-12

washing the limbs with q cheap alkali
or by the use of a whitewash made. OF
lime and soft soap. For the latter,
digging them out with the knife OF
searching tor them with probe, as
long as you can see evidences OF their
presence; afterwards coat of white
wash may be used on the trunk OF
the trees which will prevent any far
Their ravages.
THE PRODUCT
of fig orchard on one acre OF ground,
the trees five years of age and well
grown should be at least one hundred
and fifty bushels, or about one bushel
and a half to each tree. This will IN
crease as the trees grow older. We
have seen many trees from which
could be gathered at least ten bush
els during the season.
THEIR VALUE FOR COMMERCIAL PCR-
The quantity of figs shipped into
the United States is incredible.
They are generally repacked in
drums and smaller boxes after they
arrive. In view of the large amount
OF money spent for figs by our peo-
pie, and from an economic point OF
view. we recommend the drying of
the figs for commercial purposes
Why we should be compelled to buy
an interior article, when we have an
abundance of the best before our
DOORS it is a problem we have been
trying to solve for many years; but
perhaps a light sketch of the man.
ner of
DRYING FIGS IN SMYRNA
will be of interest to our readers.
The soil in the vicinity of Smyrna is
of volcanic origin, and the climate
much colder than ours, being sur
by high mountains COW
cred with snow.
Of the fig, there are three varieties:
one large purple. much like that
seen in New Orleans; also large
yellow, and smaller one, which is not
much thought of and never shipped.
The trees average the size gener-
ally seen in our gardens. The fruit
is very dry and very insipid, and
when fresh, not used by the natives.
The crop ripens about the 2Sth OF
August They are shook from the
trees, and thrown OF the ground in
the sun, where they are allowed 20
remain few hours. They are then
packed into hampers and brought on
the backs of mules to the bazaar or
market, and thrown into piles ten or
fifteen feet high. The fruit is selected
into three classes by women and
and packed without further
preparation, in boxes and cartoons.
1t is common sight to see a wo-
man dig a hole in a pile of figs and
place her child therein for sate-keep-
ing.
Figs are generally shipped on sail,
ing vessels the hold is kept well VEN
tilated by wind sails and the matches
left open. There is also small mag
got or worm which bores hole in the
blossom end of every fig; these
worms are in such abundance that
they crawl all over the vessel and
drop into everything. When the
fruit arrives at its destination, if it is
dry and covered with grape sugar, it
is considered in good order; if dark
and shining in appearance, it is in
process OF heat and decay.
In about three months and a half
from the time of leaving Smyrna, the
vessel drops anchor in the harbor of
New York, and from thence the fruit
is distributed over the West and
South. and are sold in large quanti-
ties at big prices to a people who
grow a better article, and if SO dis
posed, have it in their power, not
only to supplant the Turkish flo in
the Southern States, but to drive
them from the markets of the world.
Here the question naturally arises,
how shall we prepare the fig for mar
ket in such a manner as to be mer-
charitable q? There is scarcely house.
wife in the land but who, sometime
or other, had the fruit gathered and
tried to preserve them by drying.
They have been spread in the sun,
placed in the ovens, and in many in
stances we have eaten very palata.
bic article prepared by these meth
DDS. But we have yet to see them
put up in such manner that they
could be used Tor commercial par
poses.
The trade demands certain style
of goods, and that style of goods
Il L i