The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-16
The Fig Industry in Texas.

ILLS SldlC, uIdC the OlIly ICdoOll Illdt
more of them are not grown is the
fact that no way of marketing them
has been discovered Some parties
in Texas seem to have solved that
problem Farm and Ranch prints an
article which shows what is being
done. Possibly there may be some
pointers for Florida fig growers. The
illustrations mentioned are not really
important to the understanding of the
article. The method of pruning is
so clearly stated that it is easy to
follow. The trees are shown as not
higher than a mans head; this makes
it very easy to gather the crop.
The only obstacle to fig culture in
Florida is the root-knot, and that can
be starved out before setting the trees.
The Farm and Ranch article is as
follows:
While at Alvin, Texas, I met w. A.
Stockwell, son of E. S. Stockwell,
who planted the first commercial fig
orchard in Texas, in 1901. This or
chard contained only three-fourths of
an acre. w. A. Stockwell took me
over his entire nursery, which was
both instructive and interesting. 1t
is quite different from other nurs-
cries that I have visited, due to its
location. Here I found the orange
and other citrus fruit growing; also
all varieties Of fruits adapted to this
section, prominent among which is
the fig.
This is their 18TH year in the nurs-
cry business in the coast country.
About one year ago there appeared
in Farm and Ranch a picture of an
orange tree loaded with golden fruit
and reclining beneath its green foliage
were three young ladies, making in
all most beautiful scene. We found
these young ladies busi1y engaged in
budding oranges, and spent some time
watching the process. AS we roamed
over the nursery Mr.. Stockwe11 care
fullys called my attention to many
facts concerning the coast country,
which [ intended giving in a separate
article.
The object of this article is to tell
of the fig industry in the coast coun-
try, a subject worthy of attention at
this time
On separating, Mr.. Stockwe11 told
me that he would call for me at my
hotel quite early next morning; that
he wanted to show me the country
around Alvin, and especially the diff
ferent systems Of fig pruning.
Mr.. M. A. Coye, the acknowledged
leader Of the fig growers, noted for
his severe pruning, was the first party
called on. He has one and one third
acres Of old orchard Mr.. Cove's
plan of pruning is: First year, cut
the tree back to within three Or four
inches Of the ground. Second year,
cnt back to within one foot of ground
His idea is to get an open head Each
year the number Of limbs or branches
triples. He cuts back each year to
within three or four buds of old
growth. This is done the last OF
February. His rows are 12x12 feet
The results are that the bush is low
and Loaded with fruit. At the time
of Our visit Oune) the fruit was
small. The photos illustrating this
article were taken in July by Mr.
y. II. BrOnner who has done much
with his camera to show what this
section can produce The photos
show the results of severe pruning
Ihe leaf comes a little in advance OF
the fig. and for every leaf there is a
hg. The tree keeps growing and set
ing fruit. which natures (set I'D tc
the middle of July) and is marketed
The tree, however, keeps growing and
setting fruit until frost.
Part of this orchard is eight years
Old: and part three years old. The