The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1914-03-21
GROW FIGS AS
A MON|ED CROP
Can Figs. Preserve Figs.
Pickle Figs Dry Figs

Make Fig Cakes, Fig Biscuits,
Fig Sand wichts, Fig Puddings
and host of other good dishes.
Use more fig; create d greater
demand for this oldest ana most
wholesome fruit. The big belt il
limited. The demand grows
greater each year. There are
many ways of preparing them.
The prices are always good. The
crop rarely ever fails. Fig trees
are long lived and are almost ak
empt from disease. There are
many trees in Louisiana that are
known to be from 40 to 90 years
old. The growing of figs 10 !
great industry that has been
overlooked. One thing only 10
needed TO make this Apple of
the South" one of the most press-
able of all our fruits. IL lust
needs men and women, boys and
glrls, to plant aud grow fgs, and
to know how to gather and care
for the fruit and how to sell it.
Fig preserves are = luxury here
at home, and sell for SOC or more
a quart. The writer paid 75c and
could only get few quarts at that
price. In Alexandria. pint jars
sold this season fer soc. Fresh
figs are always worth from 3 10 &c
a pound, according to SIZE and
quality. Large numbers of deal
ers in canned goods pay fancy
prices for figs They are a scarce
commodity on the market, there.
fore the growing Of figs cannot be
too strongly urged, nor can it be
overdone.
The whole North and West
want our figs. The very best fig
products are always at a pre- MUM
and crops are often sold in ad.
vance-long before grown. !
know OF one case where the entire
output of several Texas orchards.
fresh and preserved fgs, are sold
To a strong corporation, at fancy
prices, six years in advance. A
Number of experiments we're made
last season, shipping fresh figs
North. Some varieties bear tran
s2ortation well, keeping fresh
aud swe~t on 3 or 4 days trip by
express. If shipped in refrigerat
or cars, there Is scarcely q doubt
but what they can be sent to the
most distant Northern cities.
There are several varieties of
figs that are very hardy and grow
as far North as the Ark ansas line.
Others are more tender and will
grow only within 100 miles of the
gulf. Plant literally of the Gel
este or celestial. Every neighbor
hood has few Of these trees in
It. They grow readily from cut
tings or draws. Buy new and i'm
proved varieties that are hardy
and bear large fruit, which com.
ma0ds . higher price. OF over
80 varieties tested during the
past 8 years, the relative values
show rs fOllows:-Florentine first:
next follows Magnolia; then the
White and Green IscLia, Brown
Turkey and Celeste. This list
covers all the best varieties l am
acquainted with, and will not fail
TO please. Plant trees from De
cember lst, to last of March.
mnch depending On early and late
winter weather. For bush or
shrab culture, where trees are cut
low, plant s feet apart In 10 fe. /
rows. For tree culture plant IS
to Is feet apart each way. A
ysei'A time is saved by planting
cuttings where trees are to re.
main. TransplantiDg sets back a
fig one year.
FREEZING. Figs are the sur
est crop that one can grow. Har.
dy varieties are seldom materially
injured by frosts. probably once
Ia 10 or 10 years. More tender
varieties like Brunswick or Mag.
nolia, which are generally grown
10 bush form, once IN five years.
These figs make fruit only on new
wood, and come IN bearing the
second year.
Figs adapt themselves to almost
any kind of soil. They do best
in moderately damp ground, a.
though they will resist long
drouths, and fruit abundantly.
Abont 500 lbs of water make one
pound OF wood. and It takes 80 to