The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-12-27
hawkers' cry in Cairo-"ha the name
of AU0E fOsw

In all the vineyards and nurseries
where fig trees. were planted, / can
not recall single instance in which
the real Ozark pprSle kind was not
represented By II. or more speci-
clene; Snd ge@c.-r.-c to say, that be-
tween cIrre'ate - Y. I'd and insects,
the ;ecGDGati3f = a. effected. Let
US hope tl&f Some VI our enterpris-
{ ing horticcltursts or nurs erymen will
procure cuttings of the best kind
from Smyrna and Eleme and give
the State chance of developing this
profitable secondary branch of indus.
try while it is yet in it's infancy. 1t
is always well TO prevent a false
start.
The black kind, which is so COM
mon in this market during the sea-
son is remarkably good fruit for
the table, and will always be prefer
red at first for table figs, on account
OF it's slight sue acid taste. The cure
white, when perfectly ripe, appears
to be tree from acid. I have seen
some very aereeably tasted hybrids
OF many shades from purple to the
palest flesh colors, but remember the
names of hardly any. For domestic
markets and home consumption any
of them may answer very fairly. The
points are to consider the habit OF
the kinds, their growth, and the sort
OF laud each has hitherto done best
upon; tor some require much less
water than Others
Infinite credit is due to profession,
al gardeners and nurservmen tor the
labor they bestow in raising new va
rieties OF truit>bearing trees and
plants. But in the instance of fruits
Intended for drying, like the fig, the
pruue and Certain varieties of grapes,
whose characteristics are known the
world over, it would seem that the
boundaries of perfection have been
J reached-and In the development OF
the new industry Of fruit drying,
what better example can We have
than that which through ages has
proved q success? Grapes, prunes
and other fruits have been most sues
cessfully dried 10y artificial neat; but
( as | have never TO my knowledge
seen fig so dried l shall continue
to doubt.
GATHERING FIGS.
The fresh figs sent 10 our markets
are never haudled as they always are
where they are 8 staple article OF
consumption; so a hint or two may
be of advantage to oar growers, tor
next year, if they will cut this OUT
and keep It for a guide "''-'-'
I The Portuguese, profting Oy the
experience OF ages, has discovered
that the limbs OF fig trees are not
always very safe npon which TO
risk his own limbs, and nex', that
there is net nluch need of handling
the fruit. So he selects long cane,
and carefully splits the thin end four
or FIVE inches deep, ard by separate
ing the split portion ard tying so as
to form a cup a little wider than the
diameter of a large tig, ne has at
once an implement that answers all
his requirements. Standing near the
tree he selects what ne considers the
ripest. and putting the cup end over
the fruit, with the greatest ease sep
arates it from the branch and depo--
its it in the basket.
DRYING FIGS.
1t seems at first sight that nothing
is easier than to dry and pack box
Of figs; yet there are little points to
be attended to which, if neglected,
; will cause disappointment and loss
aud to these l will now invite atten~
! ton. Previous to collecting the fruit,
provide light wooden frames, bait
:ens will be strong enough, and they
need not be more than 8 feet by 3
over which coarse wire netting Is tt
be nailed, having meshes about an
inch square, the object OF which will
be evident in a moment. The fruit
should not be merely ripe IN the
sense of being ready for market, bat
the whole inside of it should look
when cut like rather thick oil, and
the outside just beginning TO show
signs of shrinking. Very little prac
tioe will guide the eye in selecting
the right ones, Where they cannot
be easily reached by the hand from
the ground, the cane contrivance de
scri6ed above will be found useful
Care must be taken not to crush OF
damage them. Now the tray OF
frame above mentioned, is placed on
any convenient support close TO the
tees, and as the hgs are gathered
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