Lower coast gazette., 1909-02-06
Raising Figs in Smyr ma.

OA A~
! In reporting than this season Their
will be 100, 600 camel loads, or 5000
tons, of Smyrna figs, Counsel Genera
Earnest l.. Harris reviews this Turkish
industry. He writes:
Figs are one of the most importan
, products grown in Asia Minor, ant
their handling and packing gives EN-
ployment to many thousands of mel
and women during three or four month!
of each year. The celebrated fig dis.
trict in the viiayet Of Smyrna is the
region about the town of Alden, on the
Smyrna-Aiden Railway. Fig trees be-
gin to bear fruit in the sixth year, anc
gradually attain their best period about
the tenth year. The trees grown onSthe
Meander plains produce a larger and
richer fruit than those nearer the sea
or in the upland in the neighborhood OF
Smyrna. This is the case, however, only
in normally dry seasons, as too much
moisture harms figs; therefore, in off
years, or flood years, as they are term
ed here, the trees in elegvated rsions
yield a superior fruit to those situated
in the lowlands. The wet season high
land fig, however, can never attain the
delicious taste of a fig which ripens in
the plain during a dry season.
Gigs as a rule ripen abo ut Aug. i.
They fall to the ground after full mat
urity, are permitted to dry in the sun
for a period of siz days, after which
they are packed into sacks, weighing
$50 pounds each.
Zone feature Of fig growing which is
especially interesting and peculiar is
that concerning the male and female
tIees Visi ting the fig market in the
town of A den .du.ing the month of
June, Turkish peasant women from the
country were seen engaged in selling
only male fig in little baskets. Crawl
ing over the figs were many insects,
and upon one Of the figs being broken
open it was found alive vita these in
sects, which begen escaping in every
direction. These male figs are pur-
chased by fig growers in this market
and hung in punches on the branches of
female fig trees neal the growing fruit
which is still very green in the month
of June, and about the size of walnut.
The insects from the male figs rapidly
cole ct on the female fig, penetrate the
thick skin and fertilize the fruit. When
left in their natural state the process,
of formulation is much slower than
when thus assisted by hanging a bunch
of male figs upon the branches of a
tree. The fruit of the male fig
tree is never eaten, and the moment
the insects leave it withers and rots.
In transporting fig to the Smyrna
market the greatest case mast be TAX
of as not toabruise the fruit. Sacks
are never packed one Upon the other.
From the orchards in the interior these
sacks are transported two at a time
lpon the ba:xs Of ca n lis to the near
sst railway station. There are freight
'ars especially built for the fruit, with
n above the other, so there is
absolutely no danger OF pressure or jolt
ng,. From the Caravan Bridge Railway
Station at Smyrna they are again trans
ported by camels to the bazars.
"There are several American fig
establishments in Smyrna.
the last two years they have all
either built at their own expense, or
lad erected by others from whom they
ent, large and commodius buildings,
With due regard to cleanliness, ventila-
ion and sanitation, In former years the
ondition of these packing houses was
he subject Of many complaints. To-day
here is no comparison to what they
lsed to be, and while experts in munic-
sanitation may still find many
oints to criticise, yet on the whole it
GEMS to me that the American fig
,erchants in Smyrna have done every |
hing in their power to change the old
Of things,
1.-The sorting Of figs is carried out
18th the greatest care. They are pack I
! in jars and boxes according to the I
lickness Of the skim and the. general I
Pc OF the fruit The inferior grades. !
. hordes, which are but little. hetter I
refuse, are eliminated from thai !
alter quantities and nsed for dlstjuine +
rposcs. Sometim@sfigs Of this grade. I
e used as q substitute for the chicory !
0t; Few Of this sortyeppr~-nae.s tls. Z