The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1890-03-29

in this country as Smyrna, or ''fgI
of commerce, are cultivated anC
in the valley of the Meander, in tht
district of Adm. When fresh
these f~e orc not palatable; but
when dried nearly every person
ean speak of their delicious quail
ties whiohthr- fars.aajuriva,'ea
aE the product n6any other country
or amy other laealits. even i'm Asia
Minor. Az yIoovn, there isa con IL
erable amount of interest mani
tested in the State regarding fig
culture. That we possess a suitable
climate there can be no doubt. Our
soil and water are matters of inves-
tigation. Experiments in fig
growing in this State have been
made, proving that the locality in
which the fig is grown has much to
to with with the quality of the
fruit of the same variety. There
seems to be considerable difference
of opinion as to the true name or
variety of a small white fig grown
in this State, called by many the
White Adriatic. 1t is a very fine,
thin-skinned, sweet, delicate fig,
and when dried resembles the
Smyrna or 'fg or commerce" more
closely than any other known
variety.
A few years ago several gentle
men in connection with the B4lle-
tin Company, important at consi-
derable expense fig cuttings from
Smyrna, care being taken to secure,
if such a thing were possible, the
variety grown in the Adm district.
These cuttings were distributed and
planted in various parts of the
Stale. T'or show vigorous rr0wt'
and have become large. strong
r--- and many have lruitaL but
Tie fn5. does r1tma.Gra .ur drops
.G when about .h. size af walnut
Very many reasons have been
given for this freak OF nature. Gan
it not be possible that we expect
too much from these trees, which
are very young, having been i'm
ported during the year 1882?
Would it not be well for growers
who possess these trees to wait
reasonable length of time for these
fig trees to mature and bear fruit?
In Asia Minor the fig tree fruits
when eight years old, but does not
yield any quantity Of fruit before
its twelfth or fifteen year. If this
is the habit of this fig tree in Asia
Ninar. what may be expect from #
a.an nspIante3 in California;
Na- ...... results .am when Ia IFS
native SOIL Et -a. #-. of fifteen
s.ca= u. a- u-e- af aiI.n ..a'5-
W average oL from 40 I'D 100
pounds of fruit. These trees live
to a very old age, being in their
prime at 100 years, bearing from
225 to $50 pounds Of figs. 1t is
claimed Of the Adm trees, that
when planted in other localities
they grow well but fruit poorly,
producing figs Of a very inferior
quality. ~ trees 90 0~o'r"~ratnd
av seeds. sucker. an. cuttings.
The fruit varies IN color from deep
purple to yellow and nearly white
Che tree bears two crops. one Hpeas
u The carly summer from buds O.
the previous year, ana the ovho1 IL
autumn from those of the spring
growth; this latter forms the chief
crop. The Fjcus Caaicat the name
Of the variety producing the "fig of
commerce." grows to a height Of Is
or 20 feet, and has broad, rough,
deciduous leaves, very deeply lobed
on the cultivated variety, while in
the wild state showing little or no
lobe.
The figs are allowed to remain
upon the trees until perfectly ripe,
when they commence to wither
and dry; at this point some varie-
ties drop from the trees of their
own accord, and others have to be
gathered from the trees, when the
north wind is blowing; then they
are spread on some clean, even
surface, in the sun, for several days
to dry. When properly cured the