Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-29

succeeded IN playing upon tne d0Zln
Smyrnaites trick which no doubt will
prove OF serious consequence.
Some three weeks ago w. G. West o
the Fancher-creek nursery, Fresno
came toSmyrna to make study Of tn,
Smyrna fig and also secure cuttings o
that variety for propagation in Califor
MIA. Fortunately for his object, Mr.
West on his arrival made the acquaint
ance of an Englishman, resident o
over twenty years, without whos'
assistance he could scarcely have sue
ceeded.
This resident by his energy and de
termination brought the affair to sue
cessful termination. Besides the figs
he took cuttings of other plants. This
little incident serves to show that the
Smyrnaites ought not to be 30 indiffer
ent to such important matters. By
this time Mr. West is on his way home
with his cuttings, and for the sake ol
the Smyrna trade it is to be hoped that
the fig will not take in California,
though the chance is very slight.
If it does, however. America will sup
ply the European market with better
"Eleme" than Smyrna ever produced.
Another matter which should not be
forgotten is, that American machinery
will no doubt. take the place of manual
labor in. packing. The prospect Of los
ing the fig trade is a sad one, and should
provide food for reflection for all who
live by its product in ASIA Minor.
DON'T AGREE.
We do not quite agree with our CORE
spondent, for Smyrna grown fig, pome-
granate, ETC., will never be anything else,
namely, the best in the world. Seeds
and cuttings may be taken to America or
elsewhere, put a foreign soil will never
be able to give the same nourishment
and strength to the new product SO that
no difference should be known between
it and the old. At the same time our
correspondent is no doubt right about
the want of precaution on the part Of
those who run great risk in jeopardiz-
ing the Smyrna Jig trade.-[Ed. Orien-
tai Advertiser.
MIR. VESTS RETURN.
After a journey of seven months the
cuttings arrived in Fresno May oath in
good condition, much to my surprise,
most of them having sent out numerous
roots into the sawdust, which was still
in moist condition, having no doubt
absorbed moisture during the transit
across the Atlantic. ~
On account of the lateness of the sea-
son not more than about one-third of
the cuttings grew, the warm weather
having already commenced. They were
planted out in the orchard at the
Fancher Creek nursery the following
wear, where the trees are now growing
vigorously in light sandy and well
drained soil.
NATIVE HOME.
The Smyrna fig grows in what is
known as the Aidin valley, distance
about seventy miles from the coast and
comprises the following districts: Erb-
eli, Nazli, Denizli, Balachich and Aidin
proper, but the choicest figs are pro-
duced in Erbeli, although the other dis
tricts grow fig almost equally as good.
There has been DO regular system fol-
lowed in planted fig orchards, each
grower following his own fancy and
ideas, the average distance being about
80 feet. In the orchards set out in
recent years, however, the trees are
planted 30 feet apart each way and are
trimmed AZ to feet high so as to allow
the cultivator to circulate under them
without hindrance.
The trees having been trimmed to
their proper height are never pruned,
unless the interior becomes too crowded
with branches, in which case they are
removed to admit free circulation OF
air.
The orchards are we'll cultivated. but
are plowed shallow and are kept clean
of weeds, the object being to have the
ground in such a condition 80 that the
figs can be easily found when the fruit
ripens and drops. The best figs are
grown in the valleys though the orchards
sometimes extend up into the foothills
for short distance.
THE SOIL.
Heavy argillious soils are not suited
to the fig, the soil IA sample taken from
Erbeh which I beg to call your atten-
ton to- resembling very much the
sandy soils to be found in the San
JOAQUIN valley. Tie trees are irrigated
during the first two years only, it being
claimed that after that no water is
necessary, as the fig succeeds just as
well without, and to water the trees
when in bearing would ruin the crop.
IRRIGATION.
Irrigation is practiced in the same
primitive manner as it was thousand
years ago, water being carried to the
trees in goat skin sacks. The fruit
when ripe is said to be of greenish
yellow color. The pulp seems to vary
in different soils, in some being amber,
others of pinkish shade, although
when dried this does not materially
affect the fruit, as there is no difference
in the flavor or its appearance extern
ally.
VARIETIES.
There are great many varieties OF
figs grown in Smyrna, but there is only
one kind which produces the dried fig
of commerce. When the fig is ripe it
drops to the ground Git is never pulled
or cut from the trees) of its own accord
at the proper stage of ripeness. If gath
cred too soon it is worthless.
CURING.
Every morning and evening the figs
that have dropped are gathered and
taken to the drying ground, which is
usually space among the fig trees
where some have failed to grow. A sort
of hav, or more properly, rush which
| ia INDIGENOUS in the Aidin valley, is