The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-01
DRYING AND PACKING FIGS.
Al the Work Done by Hand In
smyrna---oives Employment to
Thousands.

The fig tree grows almost wild and
requires very little cultivation. AL
though certain varieties arc grown
in various parts OF the world, those
of Asiatic Turkey, commonly called
Smyrna figs, for the reason that they
are packed and shipped from Smyrna
are the best, writes J. M. p. Mainet-
ty in the Premier Enquirer. The
growing district is in the Province
(VilayeD of Adm, the plantations
extending from Ayassoitik to Ortak-
chi, valley over one hundred miles
long, spreading far on both sides of
the line Of the Ottoman railway,
Which runs through 1t, affording di-
rect transportation from the Interior
The figs ripen by the beginning Of
August. They are not picked, but
when they reach certain maturity
they begin TO dry, and consequently
they drop on the ground. In the
morning everybody on the plantations
goes around with buckets gathering
the fruit. which they carry to GER
tain place where the ground Is COW
cred with dry leaves and straw (ser-
ge) and on which they spread the
fruit, exposing it to the sun, allowing
! II TO remain there from two to three
days.
Ii takes about three days 10 dry
the fig If north winds prevail, as the
atmosphere is then very dry. If,
| Ind hlnWt u
which means heavy dew at night the
| fruit must remain exposed to the sun
from five to seven days. This is an
| other dangerous period, as rain, or
even a shower, might ruin hundreds
of tons of fruit lying on the ground.
Heavy dews sometimes are lust as
detrimental. The proper atmospheric
conditions to insure a crop Of large,
sound. rich figs are west winds in June
and July, followed by north winds
in August, and from then on an oc-
casional west wind every FIVE or six
days.
When the figs are dry enough they
are packed in camel hair bags of two
Turkish klntals each (about $50
pounds) and carried to the railroad
stations on camel back. This is why
the crop is reported by camel loads,
load representing two bags, or about
500 pounds. The railroad carries the
bags to the Caravan Bridge station,
Just outside of Smyrna, and from
there they are again loaded on camels
and brought to the fig market Ungir
Ysharsi), where they are examined
and bought by the packers Mixtures
of the different varieties are made In
packing places to insure uniformity
in the appearance of the fruit.
Women do the first selection. They
SIT around large quantities OF fruit
selecting four sizes. which they put
in separate baskets. While selecting
the fruit they pull 1t by the stem
through the palm of the hand, thus
giving II long shape, called maca.
roni, which demonstrates size ano
makes the fig easier for the packer tC
handle. From the selection rooms
boys carry the baskets to the packing
rooms and place the proper sizes be-
fore the packers according to the
quality they are packing.
There are five kinds of packing
layer, locum, pulled, macaroni or Co
lonna, and natural. The packing II
layers is the most popular. The fl
is split open underneath, fatteneC
and given a certain shape before be
ing placed in the box. One layer o.
figs is put on top of another until tho
box is filled. Layer figs measure II
width from one and half TO two
and three-quarter inches-accordini
to grades. The locum is PRACTICAL,
the same packing, only done more
carefully. The fig is given kind o
die shape instead of cushion. and thu
idea is to fill the box perfectly, leav
ing no space whatever between thu
fruit, which makes this packing tn,
hardest and most expensive.
/, The natural packing means fig
packed In their ordinary shape IL
, bulk, either in quarter or half hun
dred bags. Generally the common
grades and also the refuse, whicl
[ means the figs that cannot be use'
r for packing are put in bags in thei
natural state and are bought b.
grinders for baking and confection
err. Since few years, however
!, large quantities of fine grades ar
imported as naturals in fifty poun,
boxes and are repacked here eithe
{ in baskets or jars. Some also ar
a imported in macaroni or Colonna 70
the same purpose, This packing con
sists of putting the fig in the boxe
as prepared by the women, one b.
the side of the other. and all the ster
ends one way.
> Fig packing is one of the principa
industries of Smyrna. Thousands q
people find employment during tn
end of August and the months of Sep
: tauhar Octoher and mart of NOyem