Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-08-26
THE SMYRNA FIG.
How IL Can be crown suocess-
fully.

Il
| fully.
Many inquiries are made from time 10
time with reference to the question Of fig
growing in this State. and especially in
regard TO the importation of the varieties
cultivated in Smyrna, aud which are al
most the only kinds known in the dried
| fig trade. The similarity Of the climate
aud soil OF many parts OF this State to
those Oriental localities where this is
leading industry have led those familiar
with both sections to wonder that greater
advance has not been made here in this
branch Of horticulture. The ordinary
blue fig, first introduced by the Mission
| fathers, is known to thrive all over the
State, while the Brown Turkey and the
small white fig of most delicious quail
| ty are raised In many sections. Tho
question OF adapiabiIity of extensive por-
tions of California to the growth Of the
| fig has been so thoroughly demonstrated
that it needs no further discussion, but
may be regarded as settled beyond all
doubt. OF course, in this, as in all else,
there will be found many places where
the fig will not do well, as is the case
with every other variety of fruit.
The principal difficulty contended
with seems to be that of procuring out
tings Of properly authenticated origin
from the fig groves Of Smyrna. The pro-
pristors Of these groves. accustomed for
ages to monopoly of the business OF
supplying tue world with dried figs, are
exceedingly 10th to allow cuttings to be
taken the refrom for shipment abroad,
lest serious inroads in time come to be
made into their exceptionally lucrative
monopoly. Various efforts have been
made on email scale to procure the
genuine Smyrna fig, but without appar-
ent su cess. Four or five years ago
parties in this ely at very great
expense imported several thousand
cuttings Of what they were as
sured was the genuine Smyrna fig Of com
merce. These cuttings were widely dis
tributed In the hope that at last the
difficulty had been solved and begin
ming had been made in what would
prove of immense value to the horticul-
tural and commercial interests Of the
State. These cuttings had been watched
and tended with great care in numerous
instances, and their fruiting has been
waited with considerable anxiety. Uu-
like other varieties, however, which fire.
quently bear in the second year after
being set out, these cuttings have not as
yet produced fruit ia any quantity,
and in the few instances where figs
have come to maturity thereon
the results have not been at all encourag.
ing. Indeed. the persons who were in.
strumeRtal in making the impor alton
now say that they are almost willing to
acknowledge that they were outrageous
ly imposed upon, and were led by no
fault of their own into paying high
price for q lot of cuttings made from the
common wild fig trees OF Asia Minor.
Inquiry into the matter. however, shows
that perhaps this Judgment is y little
premature, and that perhaps after all
somew hat is lacking in methods Of cult.
vation that may in time develop that
these trees are indeed the right
variety. In a few instances where
ihese cuttings. have borne fruit
the product has not been such Is to
suggest its being Of my commercial |
value, although this may be entirely due
to peculiariiies Of soil and ,superabund- |
ancs OF moisture, to which the fig is re-
markably susceptible. The same varie- |
ty which in one place yields an utterly |
worthless fruit will in another place,
where conditions of climate aud soil are |
different, produce fig of the utmost ex-
cellence. This is true of grapes, peaches
and o.her varieties Of fruit. While in |
some places they may grow Of large size
and fne appearance, they will be found |
deficient in those qualities which are |
considered necessary in the makeup Of |
first-class fruit. but which are amply
supplied in other localities.
As to the gigs from Smyrna referred
TO, it is due to the parties from whom
they were obtained to say that they
strenuously iasist upon the truth Of their
Representations as to their authenticity,
and claim that the trouble lies in the
fact that no provision has been made
for the ''capri6cation. as it is called, Of
the fruit. ltseems that from time imme-
mortal II has been the custom Of the fig.
growers of the Levant to allow numbers
OF wild fig trees to grow in contiguity to
the cultivated orchards. The fruit from
these wild trees is gathered at certain |
seasons, and strings Of them are made |
which are suspended from the limbs of
cultivated trees. It is said by the or
ehaadists that only in this way can the
fruit be brought to maturity, and that
from trees not so treated the young figs
will fall to the ground in an immature
condition. By many this has been held
to be mere superstition, but an expla-
nation is given on the other hand which
is Acknowledged by others to be plausi-
BILE, and insisted on by still others who
have made study of the subject as be-
ing the key TO the whole situation. 1t
seems that in the wild dgs is an insect not
found originally in the cultivated kinds;
and that after the suspension Of the
strings of the former already referred to,
on the limb Of the cultivated trees,
these insects leave their original homes
and enter the opening in the ''tame"
figs always found in the extremity of
the fruit farthest from the stem. The
exact nature Of the change wrought
therein by this insect does not seem to
be apparent, but it is claimed that it
does produce change by which the
fruit is successfully brought to ma
turity, aud the result is what Is known
as the Smyrna ng Of commerce.
Whether this is necessary or not, very
short time will now suffice TO show in
California. This season, or at most the
next, ought to bring many Of the trees
into bearing, and il the fruit should,