The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-12-08
DATES AND FIGS.
Promising Fruits From Abroad For
the West and South.


Mr.. W. T. Swingle, who went to Eu-
rope as an agricultural explorer, has
returned and has made report to
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 inn
portant results of Mr.. Swingles 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 date palm must have 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 it
thriyeS 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 varie-
ties. This has been done, and the 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 date
will 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 varie-
ties do not come true from seed. These
suckers are what Mr.. Swingle obtain
ed from half dozen GASES in the Sa-
hara desert.
While pursuing his Investigations Mr..
Swingle secured large numbers of the
blastophaga insect for the caprifica-
ton of the fig. Caprifcation is 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
caprification the peasants suspend so
called caprifgs In the branches of the
common fig tree just as the young figs
are forming. From two to six of the
caprifigs. which look exactly like small,
hard, green figs, are threaded on
rush, and the chapel is then thrown
into the branches. From 20 to 30
caprifigs suffice for large tree. These
caprifigs are the fruit Of the male form
of the species of which the ordinary
fig 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 insects-the blastophagas.
These fig insects in forcing their way
out Of the caprifigs become coated with
pollen. Then if they enter the ordi-'
nary or female fig, just developing at
this season duly, they rub off 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 ways-irst, in
preventing the fig from dropping of
when half grown, and, second, from
the rich nutty flavor which the seeds
give to the fruit.
f1cation, and indeed there are already
many sorts which have for 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 it 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.