Practical Fig Culture- in Arizona 



31 



While the fig is not exacting, it is notable that a very light sandy- 

 soil with a low water-holding capacity is not as desirable as a heavier 

 and more compact one in which a larger proportion of moisture is 

 present during the earlier portion of the growing season. Sandy 

 soils are especially undesirable where nematodes are abundant. 

 Ozonium-infested soil is likewise objectionable since this fungus 

 may attack and destroy or badly weaken the trees. 



Fig. 11. — Group of 



'eye." From 



rroup of well matured figs of the Black Mission variety. Note character of the 

 photograph, horticultural files, Arizona E.xperiment Station. 



Alkali soils are not profitable for fig production. According to 

 Hilgard, healthy fig plants have been observed on soil containing 

 as much as 6,600 pounds per acre-foot, of mixed alkali sul- 

 phates, and 200 to 300 pounds, of carbonates and chlorides. How- 

 ever, much larger amounts of alkali salts have been found in soils 

 occupied by figs which did not show any injurious effects on vege- 

 tative growth. For productive returns, however, it is perhaps advis- 

 able to avoid soils carrying more than the minimum amount the 

 plant endures without visible signs of injury. 



SELECTING VARIETIES 



A study of those varieties of figs grown in the Salt River Valley 

 shows the most hardy and prolific varieties to be the Lob Injir, 



