THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 63 



Henry Markariau of Fresno. On the nineteenth of last December, 

 very soon after oviposition had taken place, a quantity of Mamme figs 

 were taken from the trees at Loomis. These figs were packed in damp 

 sand and damp sphagnnm in ordinary fruit jars and other receptacles 

 and were kept in an out-building near an open window in San Fran- 

 cisco. With few exceptions, the figs kept in good condition and on the 

 thirteenth of April the Blastophaga commenced to issue when removed 

 from the packing and placed in a sunny window. I sent a portion of 

 them to Kinsrsville. Texas, and the party reported that the figs arrived 

 in good condition with the Blastophaga issuing, and when placed in his 

 trees began to enter the Profichi crop. It seems that there is sufficient 

 latex in the fig and protoplasmic matter in the ovaries to feed and 

 develop the insects, and all that is needed is moisture enough in the 

 packing material to prevent drying out. In gathering figs for preserva- 

 tion, it is well to take the best developed specimens. 



CULTIVATION AND IRRIGATION. 



The fig is a broad, spreading tree and needs plenty of room and 

 sun, and should not be planted nearer than 35 feet apart. It should be 

 headed up four or five feet, otherwise with increasing age the drooping 

 branches will interfere with cultivation. The fig tree responds to good 

 soil and cultivation like other fruit trees. Its water requirements are 

 less than most of our orchard trees and water should not be applied more 

 than two or three times during the summer and should be withheld after 

 the first of August, especially from young trees, in order to retard the 

 growth and permit the wood to ripen, the better to prepare it to resist 

 the winter frosts. 



To those who have grafting to do, there are one or two points suf- 

 ficiently essential to the success of the work to make it worth while to 

 call attention to them. The fig tree is not difficult to graft and it may 

 be done by any of the methods used for other deciduous trees. The 

 most essential point is to select for the scions two-year-old wood and 

 if the scion is carefully inserted, 90 per cent of the grafts will live. 

 If soft, pithy wood of one year growth is used, in my experience not 

 more than one fourth or one third will take. Generally and especially 

 for large trees or branches I find it better not to split the stock but to 

 saM^ into it, making a slanting cut about an inch deep at the top and 

 ending at the surface about three inches below the top and with a sharp 

 knife cut out a V-shaped pointed groove, into which the scion with two 

 buds is to be fitted. Then wax and tie in the usual way. In most parts 

 of the state, February or ]\Iarch will be found the best time to do the 

 Avork. 



CONCLUSION. 



The outlook for Smyrna fig industry is promising and I know of no 

 branch of fruit culture that can be engaged in Avith less risk. Plantings 

 during the past two or three years have been extensive, chiefly in the 

 Sacramento and north central portions of the San Joaquin valleys. 

 Improvements are being made in methods of curing and packing and 

 the California product is rapidly approaching in quality the best 

 product of Asia Minor. I took some pains to ascertain the production 

 of dried figs during the past season and reached the conclusion that the 

 total was not far from being 5.000 tons, about one third of which 

 was Smyrna. The production of Smyrna fig.s as yet is scarcely equal 



