New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-12-20
HOW TO DRY FIGS.

The Louisiana fig, when prop
erly dried, is considered super
ior to the Smyrna or Mediter-
ranean figs which are imported
at fal4,y pricesI Mn. Warning
ton says that the large white and
yellow figs are preferable for
drying. They should be gather
ed when about two-thirds ripe.
They should be boiled in thick
syrup made Of two pounds OF
sugar to ten pounds of figs.
When the mixture is clear the
figs should be dipped out and
drained, spread on plates or
wooden platters and placed in
the sum to dry. This takes sew
eral days, during which the figs
shoald be turned daily and
pressed fiat. When well dried
they are busted with powdered
sugar and packed in boxes or
Jars or may be layered in gran
( ulated sugar.
! The Magnolia fig, which in Mr..
Warrington's opinion, is second
only to the tlorentine as COM
mercial fig, bears large fruit.
The trees often are cut down to
form bushes and are grown IN
that manner to facilitate pick
ing and care of the trees. They
bear from June to frost. They
reach their highest yields about
the fifth or sixth years old still
bearing fine fruit. An average
of three to five bushels is the
yield of a matured bush or tree
during season.
The Celeste is probably the
best table fig grown in Louisiana.
1t is delicious eaten fresh, but it
only commands about half as
much in price for preserving pur-
poses. 1t is prolific and trees
bear at three years from plant
ing. 1t cannot be dried success
fully, being too rich in saccharine
content. The Celeste is usually
the fig served at restaurants or
on dining cars in preserved
form, for which the customer
pays 25 cents for three samples
in syrup. 1t is being largely
grown in southern Louisiana and
its limits have been extended to
the Alexandria, district where it
thrives on the cut-Over pine
lands. Almost every old planta-
ton has it's group Of fig trees in
that section of the state, some OF
them being thirty or more years
old. Occasionally the fig trees
are frozen to the ground, but they
make new and rapid growth from,
the roots. A killing freeze does
not come oftener than once in a
dozen years, if that often.
Government Pushes Figs.
Through the Girls Canning
clubs the fig culture will be
pushed in Louisiana AND the
south during the next few years,
There are 5000 members and it
is planned to interest each mem-
ber to plant a small orchard
which will come into bearing
two to three years hence. In
formation will be sent to each
member as to how to properly
raise figs and how to obtain the
best results and what varieties
to grow. The work also will be
furthered through the Agricul.
tural Extension department OF
the University Of Louisiana at
Baton Rouge. Recently some
samples of dried Florentine figs
raised at Alexandria were sent
to DIR. Bradford Knapp, head OF
the Farmers Cooperative DEM
cnstration work at Washington
and he said they were the finest
he had ever eaten anywhere.
The Louisiana fig made such a
chit at Washington that orders
totaling several hundred pounds
were shipped from Alexandria.
Members Of the department were
impressed with the excellence OF
the fruit and a general campaign
to introduce fig culture on a
large scale is to be started this
winter.
One of the most important
things is to ensure the planting
Of only the proper varieties and
the Department Of Agriculture
through it's demonstration agents
will take charge Of this phase OF
the work. Mr.. Warinton told
the writer that yearling fig trees
should not cost to exceed ifiteeu
each. They shornd be purchased
only from reputable. firms. =
Southwest Trail.
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