The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-09-09

Fig CULTURE in the South Easy and
Profitable.

RALEIGH, N. C.-The New York papers
say fresh figs are being shipped to New
York from California. If this is 50 why
can not we here in North Carolina send
them in much better condition. To-day
(July 22d) figs are retailing in Raleigh
markets for twenty-five cents per peck
and the crop from now until frost will be
very large. am gaing to make an ex-
perimental shipment for the benefit of our
growers aud believe thlt they can he
shipped in strawberry boxes aud crates
just as well,or better, than Strawberries
are. Figs all over Eastern North Caro-
lima can be grown as successfully and OF
as fine quality as anywhere in California,
and If We once get our slow people stirred
up to their interest in the matter, they
are sure to "gt there" in .he end. The
interest in the fig crop is increasing here
l have distributed in the last ttrce years
over 6, coo fig trees from the North Caro-
lima s alton of our thirty varieties of the
choicest figs of Italy and the Levant, and
am beginning to see some Of the results
We have hal recently San Pearo figs,
which weighed quarter Of q pound each
These were of the first crop, which is
always large in size of fruit. These early
figs set in late autumn aud remain dor.
mant all winter and swell out in spring
when the winter is not so severe as TO in
Jurc them. Many of them get nipped by
frost and the early crop is never so large
as the later ones. The second or main
crop is now coming on, and is unusually
abundant, and will be until frost
have suggested to onr growers and
wish to repeat it here, to take the figs
when ripe, but not too soft, wrap each
.srs~Ssrryr riTSsI Toxes ana ana Pack snugiy in
not longer than thirty two in crate. and
I am sure they will reach the northern
cities in good order.
A number of farmers have written to
ME for directions for drying figI. have
found the following the best plan: Take
wcll-ripened, figs. make strong lyc of
hardwood ashes, dip the figs in the Iye,
rinse and wipe dry with soft cloth,
and dry in any of the cheap, portable
cvaporators. Whom dry pack iu boxes
just as figs are packed abroad. A lye
made of washing soda will answer, but
is not so good rs wood ashes lyc. The
object is to remove the acidity of the
skins. The figs can also be treated in
this way and then instead of drying,
preserve them in the old-fashioned way,
i'll syrup: Put them up in glass jars with
neat lithograph labels and they will "sell
like hot cakes" Many a southern lady
could make money iu this way. A little
ginger root with them is an Improvement.
Here is All industry which our Southern
people ought surely to develope.
l met one of our leading farmers to day,
he saa ha9 Ct our our gSerS S5 ASSs
about wonderful enthusiasm for the
culture Of COW pease in the State, and
that in this section more are being sown
than he ever knew. Formerly from his
station number Of car loads were ship
ped annually to New Orleans for seed,
but this year they were hard to get Mt
any price, as the farmers were using
the seed on their own land. had great
difficulty in getting seed pease wanted
for parties North who are taking al in
tcrcst in the crop. Here is another open
ing for our Southern folks. Hundreds OF
farmers are trying these pease in localities
too far North to ripen them well. They
are finding them valuable, and the de-
mand will annually increase. Our farmers
should grow them not only for the benefit
of their soil, but for the sale of seed. You
GIN not 90 wrong in this matter There
will be greater demand every year for
this valuable crop aud our growers should
be prepared to meet it. At present the
balance of the trade is against the Sonth
and many goes away from us northward,
but it is in our power, with the wonder
full variety of crops we can grow to change
all this, get the balance on our side and
thus make the money stay here. Grow
pcase for sale OF seed, grow pease to feed
hogs and stop sending money North for
bacon; and, finally, grow pease to prepare
your land to grow more Of everything
else. All through the upper Piedmont
country of North Caroliua, there is the
finest wheat soil naturally, in this country,
and the people are attempting to grow
cotton when wheat on pease fallow would
bring them more money, and would en-.
able them TO keep stock and make man
ure and all the products of the dairy.
ate to day cheese made at our experiment
station by Prof. Emery, finer than can bt
bought to- day in Raleigh at twenty cents
per pound. All of Piedmont N. c., car
make good cheese even if they can not
make market for butter. IT, will be a
happy day Tor the hill country when they
quit cotton on most of their lands and go
into wheat, grass, pease and cows.
w. f. MASSEY.