Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-23

The successful culture Of the Smyrna
fig in California means much for these
Islands. 1t means that new industry
will spring into life, that thousands Of
acres of our lands unavailable for 9th
or purposes can be opened for the cul'
tivation of the Capri Fig-the fruiting
date palm, Lychee and a number OF
other commercial fruits. It means a
permanent increase in Hawaii's in
come. We have only to show that
profitable and agreeable employments
are possible here to fill Hawaii rapidly
with home-seekers.
Horticulture is doubtless our great
est attraction in agriculture and offers
the most delightful of all rural occu
pations. It's charm lies partly in the
aesthetical atmosphere by which II Is
surrounded and which appeals strongly
to the rudest of nature.
The evolution OF fruit crop is one
succession of agreeable and inspiring
surprises Climatic conditions, nowhere
else to be found on the mainland, ex
list here. This condition makes Ha
wall exceptionally favorite place In
which to practice diversified agricul
ture.
What Is a Fig7
There is an old saying: Enjoy life
under our own vine and fig tree,
which is indicative of the many attrac
lions of California horticulture life.
What is a fig? Do you ever see Its
flowers? To the layman 1t merely rep
resents a moss of pulp enclosed In q
thin skin. To the botanist, the outer
covering is a receptacle for the thou
sands of inconspicuous flowers. and
the whole is called an infiorescence.
What is a Smyrna Fig and in what
respects does It differ from other figs
The general character Of the tree ant
fruit is apparently the same as In 9th
er figs. and the only guide a grove,
has. that his trees may possibly be
long to the Smyrna class is that theil
fruits never mature.
| A proper understanding of the sub
ject can only be arrived at by dividing
the edible fig (Ficus CaricaJ into three
classes.
ID The Wild or Capri,
(2) The Smyrna,
(3) The Adriatic.
these being distinguished from one an
other by their flowers. viz: Male, Fe
male. Gall and Mule Flowers.
The Wild or Capri Class.
II is from this class undoubtedly tina
all species OF edible fgs sprung. an,
the improved fruit is the result o
years of cultivation and hybridizatior
The only value this class Of figs pos
sesses, is to furnish home for tn
minute wasp. "Blastophaga Grossol
UNI" for II is only in II that the inseC
can breed and exist.
II produces three crops annual!
the first being known as Profich
pushing out from the current season
wood in March and maturing in June
the second crop known as Mammon
budding out as the first crop riper
| and maturing in August. and flnall
| the third or second Mammoni Gro
making its appearance as the FIR
Mamomni ripens and maturing fro
i October to December, part of whiC
crop remaining dormant on the tre'
during the winter and not ripening b
: fore April of the following year; Il
insect during this period remains
the gals in the larvae state. The Ca
ri Figs contain three kinds Of flower
male. female and gall flowers. the nul
Der varying In greater or lie
degree In the several crops. b
there Is only one crop wifi
produces an abundance Of male
staminate flowers, and that is the Pi
ichi, so, consequently this Is the en-
one OF any value to the Smyrna clai
The succeeding crops serve only as
z habitat for the fig wasps.
70 ~. -, ~ n, -, -, n, ~ "a n, ~, n,