The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-01
DATES AND FIGS.
Promising Fruits From AbrOad For
the West and South.

MI. W.. Il. SWlnSie, VINO went 10 Ell
rope as az agricultural explorer, has
returned and has made a report "
Secretary Wilson OF the results OF his
trip to the countries along the Medi-
terranean. The following extracts from
the report show some Of the more I'M
portant results Of Mr.. Swingie's inves-
legations: An important work which
Secretary Wilson has under way Is
the introduction OF the finer sorts Of
date palms from the old world into the
arid or semiarid southwest.
The late palm must have a very hot
and very dry climate to ripen good
fruit and yet can stand considerable
frost in winter. 1t produces the best
fruit on the sandiest soils, and for
other crops the poorest soils, and 1t
thrives on all soils, even those white
with alkali. An abundant water sup
ply is, however, necessary. Realizing
the great Importance of the date palm
to the southwest, the secretary directed
Mr.. Swingle to visit the Algerian date
palm plantations and study the meth
DDS of culture followed there and es-
pecially to secure plants OF the true
Degletnoor and other superior varle-
ties. This has been done, and n first
shipment has reached the experiment
station in Arizona, and others will ar
rive later.
Investigations made at the Arizona
experiment station show that the late
will succeed in Arizona. The Arabs
propagate the plant by removing and
planting the suckers which appear at
the base Of the stem, since the varie-
ties do not come true from seed. These
suckers are what MI. Swingle obtain
ed from half a dozen GASES in the TSa-
hara desert.
While pursuing his Investigations Mr..
| Svingle secured large numbers Of the
blastophaga insect for the capriica-
ton Of the fig. Capritcation Is a proc
ess practiced in the countries about the
Mediterranean from the earliest times
and still considered essential by the
growers Of Smyrna figs. TO insure
capriication the peasants suspend SO
called capriigs in the branches OF the
common fig tree just as the young figs
are forming. From two to six OF the
caprifgs, which look exactly like small.
hard, green figs, are threaded on a
rush, and the chapel is then thrown
into the branches. From 20 to 80
caprifgs suffice for a large tree. These
caprifigs are the fruit Of the male form
Of the species Of which the ordinary
fg tree is the female. The caprifig tree
does not bear edible figs, but, instead,
small. tough fruits filled with little
gals, from which issue minute, black.
wasplike nsects-the bl~astophagas.
These fig insects in forcing their way
out Of the caprifgs become coated with
pollen. Then If they enter the ordi-
nary or female fig, just developing at
this season July, they rub of the
pollen on the flowers inside the fig,
which thus becomes fortified and rip
ems good seeds, an action beneficial to
the fig growers in two w%ays-first. In
preventing the fig from dropping on
when half grown, and, second, from
the rich nutty flavor which the seeds
give to the fruit.
Not all varieties of figs require capri
f1cation, and indeed there are already
many sorts which have for a century
fruited abundantly in the south and
southwest. 1t Is, however, absolutely
necessary to caprify the best sorts Of
figs for drying. The insect has begun
to breed in California, and it is hoped
that 1t will succeed in passing the
winter and becoming permanently es-
tablished.
We may now confidently expect to
see the dried fruit industry establish
ed shortly not only in California. but
also in Arizona and in all regions in
the south and southwest where there
are no frosts severe enough to kill the
orange tree and where the weather Is
dry during August and September.
Hungarian Wheat For the Middle
West.
Hungarian -four owe its reputation
largely to the high quality Of the hard
winter wheats grown in the great
plains between the Thesis and Danube
rivers. Other countries, especially
Russia and u wv northwest, have
superb hard spring wheats. but au-
thorities agree that it is in Hungary
that hard winter wheats Of the best
quality are to be found.
Mr.. Swingle arranged In Budapest
to secure five of the best sorts as soon
as, the 1899 crop Is dry enough to ship.
These wheats cannot be expected to
stand the severe winters Of the ex-
IRENE northwest, but it Is hoped that
for the middle western states, espe-
cially in Iowa. Kansas and Nebraska.
they will prove Of great value.
A Movable Hurdle.
yJy,;@s,. l., o-onl - ~,o,,o1lo 1,,v