The times., 1899-10-09


The act OF Congress making appropria-
tions for the United States Department OF
Agriculture for the fiscal year 1893 pro-
vided for the expenditure of $50 600 for the
collection. purchase, test, propagation, and
distribution OF rare and valuable seeds,
bulbs, trees. shrubs, vines. cuttings. and
plants from foreign countries for expert
Inents with reference TO their Introduction
into this country. In accordance with this
provision of the act, a section of seed and
plant introduction has been established by
Secretary Wilson in the Division of
Botany. and several agricultural explorers
have been sent to foreign countries TO
make examinations Of the value and man
ner Of pnopagatng various trees. plants,
vines, etc. and collect the necessary ma
terial for the experiments Mr. w. I.
Swingle, who went 10 Europe as one OF
these agricultural explorers. has returned
and has made report to Secretary Wilson
OF the results Of his trip TO the countries
along the Mediterranean. The following
extracts from the report show some of the
more important results of Mr.. Swingle's
Investigations:
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 semi-arid
Southwest
The date palm must have a very hot
and very dry climate TO ripen good fruit
and yet can stand considerable frost in
winter. Ii produces the best fruit on the
sandiest, and for other crops the poorest,
soils, and il thrives on all soils, even those
white with alkali. An abundant water
supply 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 methods of cui-
ture followed there, and especially TO Sc
cure plans OF the true Degletnoor and other
superior varieties. This has been done.
and the first shipment has reached the ex-
pertinent station in Arizona, and others
will arrive later.
Investigations made at the Arizona
Experiment Station show that the date
viii succeed in Arizona The Arabs propa-
gate the plant by removing and planting
the suckers which appear at the base OF
the stem, since the varieties do not come
true from seed These suckers are what
Mr.. Swingle obtained from half a dozen
cases in the Sahara Desert
Caprificafion of Figs.
while pursuing his investigations, Mr..
Swingle secured large numbers of the
Blastophaga insect for the caprifcation of
the fig. Ceprifcation is a process prac-
riced in the countries about the Mediter-
ranean from the earliest times, and still
considered essential by the growers of
SMYRNA figs. To insure caprifcation, the
peasants suspend so-called caprifigs in the
branches Of the common fig tree, just as
the young figs are forming. From two TO
six OF the caprihgs, which look exactly like
small. hard, green figs. are threaded on
rush end the chaplet is then thrown into
the branches. From twenty TO thirty cap
rifgs suffice for a large tree. These cap
rifgs are the fruit OF the male form OF
the species OF which the ordinary fig tree
is the female The caprifg tree does not
bear edible figs but, instead, small, tough
fruits filled with little gals. from which
issue minute, black wasp-like insects
the Blastophagas. These fig insects, in
forcing their way out Of the capriigs, be-
come coated with pollen; then if they
enter the ordinary. or female hg, just de-
Veioping al this season tJuly), they rub
of the pollen on the flowers inside the fig
which thus become fertilized and ripens
good seeds-an action beneficial to the
fig growers in two ways, first in preventing
the figs from dropping Of when half
grown and, second, from the rich lutty
flavor which the seeds give to the fruit
Not all varieties Of figs require capri
fcation and indeed. there are already
many sorts which have for century
fruited abundantly IN the South and South
west II is. however absolutely necessary
TO naprify The best sorts Of figs for drying.
The only figs which are to be compared
with the hner imported Smyrnas are a
few pounds produced IN California every
year by the laborious process Of hand pol
lination-
secretary Wilson in 1887 assured the
California State Board OF Horticulture ina;
he would endeavor to Introduce the insect
during the fiscal year 1SsS-1S9s. Parity
with this end In view. Dr. Howard. Enfo-
uOlogist of the Department, visited Cali
fornia. in the spring of 1888 Mr.. Swingle
then studying in Naples. Italy. fortunately
hit upon q new method Of shipment whica
rendered ii easy 10 send the insects tf
California in good condition This was by
wrapping the winter form Of caprng II
tinfoiI and sending by mail This simple
expedient rendered il possible TO secure
as many Blastophagas as were wanted. Ii
the spring OF 1893 Mr. Swiagle, under in
structions from the department, again sen
numbers Of the insects from Naples, and
also from the fg regions OF the mountains
OF Algeria. He also visited the hg-grow-
ing regions OF Algeria. Italy, Greece, ant
Asia Minor, ard learned the methods o
culture pursued. and also the conditions
necessary 10 the life OF the insect tn
insect has begun TO breed in California
and IL is hoped that IL win succeed il
passing the winter and becoming perma
nently established It viii. however, b
necessary TO plant small orchards OF cap
rihgs in various regions, SO that in cas-
the insect should be killed out in one 10
cality by a freeze or other causes the
could be replaced without the expense an
delay OF importing them from abroad. w
may now confidently expect 10 see tn
dried fruit industry established shortly, no
anly In California. but also in Arizona. ani
D. all regions in the South and Southwest
there there are no frosts severe enough
10 kin the orange tree, and where thl
weather is dry during August and Septsm
Der
Geod Food for stock.
In the way Of forage plants. two ar,
commonly grown In Algeria, which are o
great promise for the warmer parts o
America. viz. the carob and the thorn