The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-17
The Fig-Its Value and POSSIBILITIES

Ihe Fights Value and Possibilities.
1t is strange that this delicious fruit is
not more extensively planted, says the
Farmer and Fruit Grower The hardy
varieties, if given winter protection, have
a wider geographical range than is gen
orally supposed, the Celestial fruiting as
far north IS North Carolina and Virginia
They have certain features that should
strongly recommend them to all who
value fruit for food, or as a money crop.
The tree has no insect enemies, and those
who plant figs will have at least one kind
of fruit tree that will be sure to yield
them something to eat, and not the usual
annual crop Of disappointment, that's the
too common fruitage of those brightly
pictured trees so glowingly described and
so temptingly illustrated by the travelling
fruit-tree man.
Speaking of the fig in Middle Florida I
can state that l cannot recall d single
failure of this crop during the thirty oud
years over which 1 can look back. A
dozen trees planted near the house can be
depended upon to supply a family with an
abundance of fresh hgs, besides all that
are needed for preserves and marmalades.
The hooking birds will levy a small tax
upon the fruit, which they more than re-
pay by the destruction of insect pests in
the garden. Plant few extra trees to
offset the loss by the birds; do not shoot
them by the hundred, as a grape grower
boosted that he had done, some years
since in your journal. Such a utilitarian
spirit is, l hope, exotic in Florida.
After tg tree has arrived at the bear
ing age it will stand a very low tempera-
ture without any injury whatever, and
will stand any amount of neglect. 1t is a
common sight to lind an old fig tree in
! perfect health and viVOr standing alone
in an old field, the surviving witness Of a
| former settlement. One cause of great
deal of misapprehension as to the harii-
ness of the rig lies in the fact that it is
| very tender whi.C young, and even in
! Florida must be protect every winter
/ until IL is four or five years old, or is fully
! grown or in full bearing. After this it
/ good and permanent investment. 1 know
! trees in Monticello that are certainly
| thirty years old, and which, with total
neglect, have borne an annual crop of at
| least three or four bushels of figs.
| The trees often set a crop of fruit the
| first year, but they must be four or five
| years old before they are at their best
! The fruit begins to ripen early in July,
| and the aeasOn lasts till late in August
| 1t is eaten usually fresh from the trees,
some tastes preferring an addition of
| cream and sugar. 1t makes excellent
! preserves and marmalades, and is easily
| evaporaced, in which form there is no
! reason why it should not become val
liable article of commerce.
There are no fig orchards in Florida, a
dozen trees being about the maximum
NUM- Der on Que place. l know of no reason
why they could not be extensively plant
ed, and the fruit evaporated, and find a
ready market
With its many advantages, it is strange
that the fig is not more extensively planted
and its possibilities developed, and it is
with view of calling attention TO these
facts that this article is written.