Practical Fig Culture in Arizona 9 



The production of figs in both the valley and the mesa country 

 near Yuma is limited to a few varieties of Adriatics. These include 

 both light and dark-colored forms. Most of the plantings are old. The 

 names of the varieties, dates of planting, and sources of stock have 

 been lost through the exchange and sale of property. In both mesa 

 and valley the fig believed to be the Black Mission is the leading 

 sort, since it excels in carrying capacity, which makes it possible to 

 ship the fruit long distances. Two crops are produced. The tree 

 should bear commercial crops at 4 to 6 years of age. On the mesa, 

 the first ripens 8 to 12 days earlier than on the valley floor, where 

 picking begins May 20 to 25. The crop is in demand as fresh fruit 

 in Los Angeles and San Francisco markets at prices ranging from 

 50 to 75 cents per pound. By the time the first fruit produced in the 

 valley is ready for shipment, however, the price usually drops to 

 12 to 20 cents in these distributing centers. This fruit is shipped 

 in 7-pound crates. A yield of 5 to 20 crates is secured per tree. 

 The second crop begins to ripen July 7 to 12 and continues for 

 about three weeks. The fruit is put up in two grades, selling at 

 about 9 cents and 5 cents, respectively. On trees 10 to 15 years of 

 age, the yield varies from 10 to 35 crates. Of the other varieties 

 mentioned, both light and dark-colored, several are larger then the 

 Mission but are too soft to ship, yet even these are of great value 

 for canning or drying. Fig trees grown in this section of the State 

 are mostly located along ditch banks, and receive no cultivation 

 or irrigation, yet return enormous profits. 



At Mesa, in the Salt River Valley, occurs the so-called Black 

 Adriatic, which is the sole representative of commercial sorts grown 

 in the immediate locality. This variety produces two crops, the 

 first ripening about June 10. It is shipped to various markets — 

 San Francisco, Denver, El Paso, and intermediate points. The 

 grower receives 4 cents per pound. The second crop ripens July 25 

 to August 1. For the most part it is consumed locally for canning, 

 selling as fresh fruit at 2 cents per pound. Trees grow without care 

 along banks of irrigation canals. 



On the Experiment Station Farm near Phoenix is a small orchard 

 of approximately 60 trees of various varieties. Half the orchard 

 was planted in 1904 and the balance in 1909. Details concerning 

 these trees are given elsewhere in this paper. 



SCOPE OF FIG growing 



Figs, no doubt, have been grown in Arizona for more than a 

 hundred years. Numerous forms have been generally disseminated 



