32 Bulletin 77 



Bulletin Smyrna, Black Mission, Black Adriatic, Bardajic, Rose 

 Blanche, Dauphine, and Ronde Violette Hative. Other named 

 varieties that can be recommended are the White Adriatic, White 

 Mission, Angelique, Brown Turkey, Black and White San Pedro, 

 Magnolia, and White Endich. 



The selection of varieties that have proved themselves in a lo- 

 cality safeguards the grower in securing desirable trees. 



PROPAGATION OF THE FIG 



The fig is propagated from seeds, shoots, hardwood cuttings, 

 and grafts, and may be budded or grafted. 



Propagation by seeds is apt to be disappointing, since the seedlings 

 do not come true to type. This method is only possible in 

 those groups that produce viable seeds. The practice is to be con- 

 demned except when it is the purpose to originate new and more 

 desirable sorts. 



Reimer* in discussing the cause of premature dropping of figs, 

 said: "At least 95 per cent of the figs examined were seedlings 

 of the true Smyrna fig. Most of the seedlings bear fruit similar to 

 that of the Capri fig; very rarely is it like that of the true Smyrna 

 fig. . . . Th'ese seedling figs as a rule are absolutely useless as far 

 as the fruit is concerned." 



According to Swingle, + of the 139 seedling trees in the Maslin 

 orchard in bearing in 1908, 74 were Capri figs and 65 Smyrna. Of 

 the former, 20 or more are valuable for planting in the Capri orchard; 

 of the latter, 1 in 10 was worthy of a trial with a view to its intro- 

 duction as a commercial sort. He states further, however, "at 

 least two and possibly more of them show a very valuable charac- 

 teristic not known in any fig of the Smyrna type now cultivated — 

 the fruits becomes sealed automatically as they ripen." Self-sealing 

 is due to a pellucid gum filling and then hardening in the eye, 

 preventing entrance of moisture, bacteria, fungi, and insects. 



Selecting stock for propagation. — The safest and surest way to 

 secure trees adapted to local conditions in the State is to grow 

 them from hardwood cuttings. Elsewhere in this paper mention 

 is made of both named and unknown forms that are adapted to local 

 conditions. 



Reference is sometimes made to orchards that came into full 

 bearing and produced good yields but have since disappeared. The 

 Thirteenth Census of the United Sta tes shows a decrease in bearing 



*Cause of Premature Dropping. Bull . 208, N. C. Exp. Sta., p. 204. 



fThe Maslin Seedling Fig Orchard at Loomis, California, and its bearing on the Smyrna 

 Fig Industry of the Country. Separate, California State Commission of Horticulture, p. 3, 



