BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 269 



Fig culture. — Between 5,000 and 10,000 seedlings of the best 

 varieties of Smyrna figs are being distributed annually, together with 

 cuttings of choice varieties of figs and caprifigs. The same variety is 

 being tried in many different localities in order to test each sort 

 thoroughly. 



From the Maslin seedling fig orchard at Loomis. Cal.. under lease 

 by the department, choice caprifigs are distributed to the smaller 

 growers whose orchards are just coming into bearing and whose 

 caprifig trees do not yet yield fruit. The ordinary caprifigs do not 

 come into bearing as soon as the Smyrna figs. 



The Milco caprifig has proved to be of very great importance, as 

 it has been able to support the fi.g insect ( Blast ophaga) all the year 

 around. 



A large number of new types of Smyrna figs have been tested in the 

 foothill regions of California in the hope of finding varieties adapted 

 to those climatic conditions. It is believed that the foothills will be 

 suitable for growing the very best grades of Smyrna figs, although 

 the crop will not be so large as in the hot and more fertile valleys 

 below. 



A study of the wild species of figs related to the cultivated sorts 

 has been undertaken and several promising discoveries have already 

 been made. Among others, a caprifig from Abyssinia has been found 

 which is unusually vigorous in growth and which produces pollen in 

 the winter-generation caprifigs. This permits the caprification of the 

 first crop of the Smyrna figs, the brebas. or spring figs, which here- 

 tofore have never been caprified. Investigations are now under way 

 to determine whether this caprification can not be done on a com- 

 mercial scale. This is a matter of very great importance, since capri- 

 fied figs are freer from disease, keep better, and are of better flavor 

 than the uncaprified figs. 



Cooperative work on the Indian reservations. — During the past 

 year satisfactory progress has been made in the development of new 

 crops in cooperation with the Office of Indian Affairs, Department of 

 the Interior. Already at least two new industries have been estab- 

 I'^lied among the Indians on the Pima Reservation at Sacaton, Ariz., 

 the culture of superior grades of acclimatized Egyptian cotton and 

 the growing of choice disease-free Bermuda onions. Some of the 

 more progressive Indians are now successfully growing these crops. 

 At the same time experimental cultures on a large scale are being 

 carried on at the Cooperative Testing and Demonstration Garden, 

 Sacaton, Ariz. The selection of new varieties and the improvement 

 of cultural methods are being made the subject of a thorough investi- 

 gation. 



In addition to cotton and onions, a large number of fruit and nut 

 crops are being tested, including the date palm, fig. pistache, and 

 citrus fruits. A dry-land olive orchard is also being established on 

 the Pima Reservation near the Sacaton garden. 



The great advantage of this work on the Indian reservations lies 

 in the fact that the Indians not only learn to grow the crops, but 

 they are also trained in handling these crops and become skillful 

 helpers for the white settlers in the adjoining regions. This hatter 

 point will prove of the utmost importance when these industries ex- 

 pand, as they are sure to do. 



