The record-union., 1899-05-11
Agriculture
and
Horticulture.

The fertile areas of the Pacific Coast
are famous for their varied agricultural
products and for wonderful growths in
horticulture. The following will inter-
est all persons who care to know what
as going on in these fields of industry:
FIG CULTURE.
FRESNO Democrat: The California fig
industry, according to those who have
made study of the business, is yet in
its infancy.
The demand for the dried product is
increasing. while the supply is limited,
ahere is no over production, nor is
mere likely to be for years to come
line zig product of the State last year
was valued at about $25O,O00, while
nve years ago the fruit was grown
chiefly as a novelty.
Seropian Brothers of this city
are the most extensive packers and
shippers OF figs in California. Indeed,
10 them may be ascribed the advance
that has been>lnade in the method OF
curing and the manner Of packing
Last season these enterprising pack
ers put up and marketed 1,50O,OOU
pounds of figs, most of them packed in
lO-pound boxes attractively labeled
and papered They are enthusiasts in
this industry and have the utmost con-
fidence in the future of the culture of
the fig.
In expressing his ideas on fig grow
ing to a reporter of the Democrat
. George Seropian stated without hesd-
fancy that he believed the fig crop had
been the most profitable product
grown last year in the San Joaquin
Valley and in the northern part of the
State, considering the ground space
occupied by the trees and the time and
labor spent upon it. The inducements
presented by fig culture as detailed by
Mr. 5Seropian are reproduced in the
data forming the body of this article
The white Adriatic is the only COM
mercial variety worth considering. The
trees come into bearing in about five
years. At nine years they should pro-
duce from 100 to 175 pounds of fruit
each.
deep, sandy loan should be selected
for orchard purposes and trees should
not be set nearer than thirty feet apart
each way. The fruit requires plenty of
sunlight, or it will sour ON the trees
and SO become unfit for curing. 1t is for
this reason principally that the rows
should not be nearer than the distance
mentioned and a greater distance, say
forty feet apart, would be better.
When once planted, fig orchard is
a legacy for generations. The trees
are vigorous growers, clean. not sub
ject to disease nor attacked. by insects
or blights. They do not require spray
an OIL nd O.
pensive treatment. They are sure and
bcuntiful bearers and the crop has an
advantage that few fruits possess of
Tipening at intervals instead of all at
once, as in the case of most deciduous
fruits. They begin to ripen about Aug
ust 10Th, and continue until about Oc-
tober.
The trees Will stand more frost in
spring than the raisin grape without
injury to the fruit germs. The crop Is
easily harvested and is easily cured
The curing is much less laborious than
the curing of raisins. When cured the
fig is easily and readily transported te
the packer who takes the product, pays
for it. and this settles the business.
The difficulties heretofore existing
which initiated against the sale and
demand for the California fig was the
lack Of experience of the grower ir
curing the fruit and caring for his
trees, the roughness of the skin and
keeping qualities, the unattractive
style of packing and labelling, and the
lack of a ready market for the crop
because of the above named defects.
THE BIGGS CANNERY.
Biggs Notes: The Biggs cannery
this week has posted notices TO the ef-
feet that $50 women and girls will b.
wanted on July 9TH for the purpose OF
handling the fruit crop of the presen
season This augurs well for the pros
poets Of Butte County fruit and. indi
Gates beyond doubt that these who ar
in a position to know are confident of {
larger crop this year than ever before
Previously the call from the Biggs can
merry has not exceeded 800 women anC
girls The reason for the demand TO
an additional number of workers is ex
planned by the fact that the Biggs can
merry has made improvements the pas
year which will add to the facilities o
that institution to such an extent tina
the output can be largely increased
over that of other years
MONEY IN PIGEONS.
The raising of pigeons has increased
much in POPULARITY throughout Califor
mia during the past few years. In tn
South, and in some of the Western
States, there are large aviaries, wher
numbers of pigeons are raised for tn
market. A large number of squads ar
raised every season in these establish
ments and it is said that good prof
is made by the owners. As in the cas-
Of any other enterprise of this kind,