The record-union., 1897-10-09
OUTLOOK FOR SMYRNA FIG Gull
TIVATION.

On the Sd instant the Record Union"
printed the full text of a letter by a
committee Of the State Board of Trade
addressed in September to the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture, upon the subject
of fig culture in California, and at the
same time printed the reply of the Sec.
retaTy.
In it's letter the committee set forth
the great Importance of the fig trade.
For the fiscal year 1896 nearly 12,000,-
the United States, valued at the port of
export at S639, ,512. The actual value
Of the Importation. however, is repre-
sented by considerably large figure
into the port of New York, where the
figs are sold at auction. The great bulk
of the import comes from Turkey, and
the product is known as the Smyrna
fig of commerce.
This fig is the most desirable because
of a fertile seed which imparts pecul-
lar fruity flavor. very much valued by
consumers. The letter goes on to state
that in 1880 cuttings of this fig were
imported into California and planted
in various parts of the State but none
of the trees resulting have borne any
fruit 1t was given out shortly after
by German scientists that the Smyrna
fig is not matured without the aid of
a wasp by which the process of capri
fication is secured. The edible fig bears
only female flowers, and the wild fig
only male flowers. The wasp referred
to. bears the pollen from the latter to
the former, and thus fertilization is
carried on. Importations of Capri figs
were then made into California bear
ing the wasp plentifully, which grew
vigorously, but refused to carry on the
fertilizing process.
It is now established that the only
way TO secure the desired end is by
the direct importation of the "flcus ca
pri'-the edible fig, with formed figs
containing the pupa Of the wasp. I'm
VI THIS O1AcA1 dSlOA AAOAAA ~hNA
leo have not proved successful. so that
it is now agreed that the only way to
secure caprification of the fig in Cali
fornia is by importing the Capri fig
tree In the winter months with the figs
upon it. The committee therefore pc
titioned the Department Of Agriculture
to aid it in devising methods for the
needed importation for the agricultur-
suggesting two or more devices, but
submitting to the department that its
facilities, and its knowledge Of the
subject, would indicate to it still other
methods. 1t was added that planta-
tons Of figs are ready for the expert
nent in this State.
To this request, and the further one
that some person be dispatched to
Smyrna to inquire into the subject, and
that if the funds are not available for
the purpose, that the Department ask
Congress for an appropriation that the
S1,200,000 paid by the people of the
United States annually to Turkey for
figs may be saved, since in California
we have all the climatic and soil con-
ditons necessary to raise all the figs
the people of our country can consume.
To this letter the Secretary of Agri-
culture, Hon. James Wilson, replied,
under date Of September 25th, saying
that he would at once consult with the
Chief of the chronological Division,
and if it is found that what is sug-
gested by the committee is an absolute
necessity, the department VIII stop at nc
expense to aid the State Board of Trade
in this important matter. If he finds
that the Chief differs from the views
of the committee, the Secretary viii
not stop there, but will place him ir
communication with the committee
that the latter may remove the doubts
Of the Chief
This correspondence we have thu:
presented anew in brief form, becaus'
of the exceeding Importance Of th'
subject and the wealth Of meaning
there is in it for California, if the view: