Evening star., 1911-08-20

the fix growers cut the maio fgs con
tanning the insects in halves and string
them on wire sticks. and then throw
fham I'D into the female trees. and the
same Is now being done in our fig or
chards
As 20 the introduction Of the insect into
California, this was attempted twenty-oro
wears ago. but IL was not successful. Dur
ing he eight or nine years following other
attempts We're made aud failed. and then
Prof Swingle. having spent long time
IN the study of the insect and its methods
of working. sent some capri figs. whose
cut stems had been vaKed and which
We're wrapped I'm tin foil. 10 California.
The wasps came out. hut II was not ths
right time Of year FOR the female bios
som, and another attempt Was made IN
lSe' This was successful. and to make
long story short. the biastophaga began
to breed by the millions a year They
arc now TO he found IN tho male trees
Of all the fiG orchards, and We are rats
ing fruit that wifi compete with that OF
Sml rna In the worlds markets.
At the same time the smyrna Zig Is
being bred. and new FIGS created, tho
very best figs are being married. AMI
Of these has a gum drop In it's mouth.
which seals NJ the rlace where the rain
is liable to go in and rot the fis TINS
Is known as the Rixford fig II is a truic
which practically cans itself. and there
fore may be guaranteed clean without
was discovered three years ago. after two
soaking rains had spoiled the figs on
the adjoining trees OF a different variety.
CUTTINGS of these varieties are being dis
tributed to all who will plant three seed
ling fig trees for every cutting received.
One of the great breeding grounds for
new figs is the Maslin fig orchard in
Placer county, cal. This is now gov
ernment station. being rented 10 Cnce
Sam for a nominal sum by the Southern
Pacific railroad. 1t contains 139 fiy trees
which were planted from the seeds Of
the best imported smyrna figs hy T.. w
Maslin. tho seeds having been sowu al
most quarter OF century ago Prior
to that there had been attempts to raise
smyrna figs in California. but owing to
ncn-cap;ifiCation and other reasons thew
were all unsuccessful. Mr. Maslin
thought the Turks were sending us bad
seeds. and 80 he wrote 10 Thlrber x
Co. the well known grocers of New
York 10 ship him "A box OF their verv
best SMYRNA figs. as he wanted to plant
the seeds. They did 50. and having
bought this plantation he gave M his
office and attempted 20 make money in
crcharding. The seeds sproUted and lie
got 153 trees. Later on he found that
his figs would not fruit. and hc eventu-
ally had 10 give mp hi, orchard and
the estate cOnnecten Win II.
In the meantime Mr.. Swingle tried 10
buy the orchard for the bureau OF plant
industry of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. but the new owner
asked an eNtravagant price. whcreupon
the title was investigated and WAS found
TO lie in the Southern Pacific Railroad,
the orchard being on their right OF WAY.
The matter was referred to the railroad
authorities and they being glad 10 pro-
mote the fruit industry leased the land 10
the United States government for an in
definite period for 81 per acre per year.
In that orchard there are now seventy
four male trees and sixty-five female
trees All are twenty years old. From
the seedlings have sprung up a dozen
valuable new varieties, some of which
are unequaied by any that We have I'M
ported from the best fig-growing regions
of Asia Minor, North Africa and Europe.
In addition the department has several
thousand other seedlings produced from
the finest varieties Of figs and these are
being distributed to fig growers in dr.
ferent parts of the west. The result VIII
be that the United States viii eventually
not only raise all its own figs but that
il will have the best figs that can be
produced
FRANK .. CARPENTER