Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-09-27
FIGS OF COMMERCE.
HoFy and Where They are G~3vn---Our
 Valley Product.
Pneniv Gazptfe.

Pnenix Gazette.
 Col. H. W Adams has left quite a num- Der of small boxes of figs at Goldman & Co.'S store where the first figs ever cured ln Arizona can be seen. That these figs rank high as articles of commerce there can be no doubt. The Salt River Valley IS renowned for its varied resources. but we cannot but think that the fig industry ls destined to become one of the chief industries of this section. No fruit tree extant IS 30 rugged in it's nature as the hg-lt IS free from all insect troubles and IS a stranger to the diseases known to the fruit world.
 Figs have been used in the east as an article of food from time immemorial. They were among the fruits brought back from Canaan by the lsraelites sent by Moses to report on the productions of that land. We read of present having been made to David of two hundred cakes of figs. They were probably used chiefly in the dried state The drying is easily effected in warm climate by ex- posture to the suns rays, in the same way as grapes are dried, which are called from that circumstance, raisins of the sun. Like the grape, the substance of the fig abounds in what is termed grape-sugar. In drying, some of this exudes and forms that soft, white powder which we see on the imported dried figs. They are thus preserved In their own sugar and render ed tlt for storing up as an article of food.
 Figs were considered of such necessity by the Athians that their exportation from Attica was prohibited. Those who informed against persons violating this law were called "sycophantae," from two Greek words, signifying the discoverers of figs. These informers appear to have l been especially disl1ked. The wood of the l fig IS soft and spongy, and as in conse- quence 1t can be easily charged with oil | and emery, it IS used in some countries | by lOcksmiths and armorers for polish ing. The fig was introduced into this country by the Spaniards at the time they settled Florida. It is.now grown in abundance in nearly all the southern states, and can be grown successfully by protecting the trees in winter, in the middle and some of northern states The fig Is a very thrifty tree and requires lit tie attention in its cultivation
 It thrives best in rich. mellow soil, well drained. but kept moist by sufficient rain fall; but 1t will grow well upon the poorer and dryer soil. Sunny locations are the best selections to perfect the fruit. It is propagated from cuttings of the same years growth, or from sprouts from stool
 plants. They make fine growth during
 the first season. and begin to bear the
 year following. In warm climates tive
 crops of figs are produced from the fig
 tree, each crops being produced on dis
 hnct sets of shoots. The second crop grows
 from the eyes or the buds of the shoots
 made in early summer, and if the seasor
 be sufficiently long and warm, the frul
 will ripen,
 In such climate it is the second crol , that IS most prolific and valuable, ant that is used in drying for exportation. II
 climates where the winters are severe, tn, trees are so trained to lie along tn l ground. when they are covered with lit } ter and earth. In setting out the plant 1t is necessary to give them room accord } ing to their size. and they will requir l little other attention except clean cul l turc.
 l There are few fruit trees with so l:ttI trouble in their cultivation, that bear S, . abundantiy, or yield so much for so littI
 care, as the fig tree. The mode of stick . ing cuttings in is to prepare the gr0urt : well, make d narrow trench from an incl = to an inch and half deep and then driv t into the ground the cutting to the deptl l of six or seven inches. The upper par | of the cutting is then bent down in th 2 trench and covered with earth to tn : level of the ground. Around the top o : the cutting make small excavation ant l ill with straw. in order to keep the soi r III good condition of moisture
 | When planted in this way the euttinl 2 wi! take root promptly and vegetat :, thrltt1ly. and bear the second year an, a sometimes -favoraufe- situations, tn T first year There are many varieties Q i the fig. and they may be increased eithe 2 by seed CT the method of cuttings. The, ] may also be grafted with a new variet, s about the time the sap begins to move
 Very little pruning Is required as tn . branches and leaves are necessary fo { protection against heat and cold Tn - variety known as the White Fig" i'm T ported from France, is sufficiently hard l, with slight protection to withstand tn } climate of the middle states
 T It is kept low and shrub like so tha 5 1t may be bent to the ground and covere
 with earth in winter to protect 1t iron
 frosts. The best varieties for cultivation
 on account of the excellence of the frui
 and their adaptability to drying are thos
 known as. Brunswick, Large White
 Isehiau, Genoa, Symrna and F'igdue d'Oi The brown fig of Turkey IS also favorit
 variety. Turkey and Italy furnish to tn
 world the largest amount of the drie
 figs of commerce. More than thous
 and tons are imported annually int
 great Britain.
 The annual importation into the Unite S States amount to nearly million of dol 9 lars.