Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-03
Fig Possibilities
Just Recognized

1OSSIUIllIleS
Just Recognized. ,ust hss,rn MINI ~
be recognized. New varieties. adapted
to different climatic conditions. are be-
ing brought forward, and in several
states the fig acreage has doubled with
in the last five years. In 1910 there were
less than 100000 fig trees in the United
States Now 100000 is regarded as a
conservative estimate. In 1910 they
were confined almost entirely to the ex-
treme southwest. Now f1ourishing crops
are being produced in Texas, Louisiana.
Mississippi. Alabama and Georgia, and
are being planted in Kansas, Oklahoma
and Ohio, while at least one farm as
far north as Rhode Island is yielding
good profits.
During the past two years a sort of
fig craze has been spreading over the
country. Many professional people OF
small incomes are drawing their hoard
ings out of the savings banks and pass
ing them over to be invested in fig farms,
varying in size from a half acre up.
The fig industry will yield big returns
to planters who have the proper soil
and climatic conditions. but 1t cannot
be grown as widely as is now being
claimed. Neither can the farmer plant
his fig tree and rest luxuriously under
it's shade until the fruit comes. He
must work for it. and keep vigilant
other pests.
The fig is native chiefly to Asia and
Africa, but has proved itself adaptable to
a number of regions. 1t is found in dif-
ferent varieties in temperate as well as IN
semi tropical localities San Francisco.
Pueblo and Wichita. Kan. are parallel
to the localities in which excellent
varieties are produced upon the other side
of the world There seems to be no scien-
tific reason why the same varieties should
nd
going on toward that end. But all the
difficulties have not yet been overcome.
Even at Arlington farms. the experiment
station of the Department of Agriculture
in Washington, most of the varieties tried
have proved of doubtful reliability, be-
cause they do not fully mature all Of their
fruit before the frost. Several amateurs
in the city of Washington. growing one or
more trees in their own gardens or door
yards, have seemingly been able to ripen
their fruit satisfactorily for several sea-
sons but whether it could be produced in
commercial quantities is another matter.
Figs are Of two distinct types, each hav-
ing many varieties. The types are known
as the Smyrna and
Two Distinct the Adriatic, and II
Types of Figs. has lately developed
SO much enthusiasm and is producing
such excellent results. This fig tree is
likely to yield two crops. provided the sea-
son is long enough 1t is believed that the
Adriatic fig. however. is the one best
suited to American climatic conditions out
side southern California
The Smyrna fig tree produces three
distinct kinds of blossoms, and depends
for pollinization upon certain species
hiorf Av,11, yfa
The spring fig blossoms have fertile
pollen. but are without pistils. In sum-
mer. the flowers are without the pol
lenated stamens, while the autumn flow
er are sterile but pistlated. For nearly
twenty years after the fig tree had peen
introduced into California, 1t grew lux
uriantly but produced no fruit. linen
the state sent a scientist to Asia TO
study the plant in its native land ana
ascertain the cause of its unproductlve-
ness in this country. The expert round
that the tree was Inhabited by the
blastophogia. which Is the agent OF
The Adriatic fig produces only one kind
of blossoms, and therefore offers fewer
difficulties to the grower. 1t is this
fig which is now being SO extensively
grown in the east. so that the posi-
bilities of supplying fresh ripe hgs TO
the general market seem now assured
The introduction of ripe figs to the
millionaire colony at Newport about
three wears ago started the rad OF hs
parties" instead of melon parties, as
informal entertainments. The only
supply of figs available to Newport mil
lionaires comes from the farm of Job
Barker, who devotes his six acres to
them in defiance of the ruling of the
Department of Agriculture that hgs
could not be produced above the Mason
and Dixon line. He carries his plants
through the cold New England winter
nv pulling them up in the fall and
storing them in the cellar after the
method used for raising cherries in
northern Europe. Because of the cold
climate and consequent short season
the fig trees Of the north are dwarfeo
into mere bushes, easily handled.
Formerly, Job Barker operated
small truck farm. but he became con-
WINGED that figs would
Truck Farmer yield him greater
profits with less work,
Raising Figs. and for three years
he has been demonstrating this fact.
He does not ship to market because the
millionaires have acquired taste for
ripe figs and drive to his farm for sup
niles of the fruit. He is always sure
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