CROPS OF THE COLONY. 67 



FIGS. 



The fig ranks next to the olive in importance among- the orchard 

 crops of Algeria. Like the olive, it is most extensivcl}' grown in the 

 mountain zone of the coast region, although common in every part of 

 the colon3\ In Ivabylia no less than two dozen varieties, some of 

 them of excellent quality, are known. Figs, both fresh and dried, 

 form a large part of the food of the Kabyles, who also export to 

 Europe a considerable (|uantity of the dried product. The finest 

 varieties foi- drying, such as are grown near Smyrna, are not, however, 

 grown in Algeria, except in an experimental way. Figs are cultivated 

 in the shade of date palms in the oases of the Sahara; but neither in 

 yield nor in quality do the desert-grown figs compare with those of 

 the mountains. Fig trees do not endure well the severe climate of the 

 high plateau. 



In the larger valleys of the coast region heavy yields can be obtained 



under irrigation. Some varieties grown in Algeria bear two crops a 



year; others, only one. In establishing a fig orchard, either nursery 



stock, budded from 2-year-okUwood, or root shoots from good trees 



are used. Budding is generally done in February or March. Growth 



is rapid, amounting often to 5 feet during the first summer. The 



trees, when old enough for the orchard, are set out in winter, generally 



about 30 feet apart. The only pruning done consists in removing the 



dead wood and the shoots at the base of the trunk. The orchard is 



occasionally given a shallow plowing or cultivation. In most Algerian 



soils it is found that fertilizers containing phosphoric acid and potash, 



if applied in late winter, materialh^ increase the yield of fig orchards. 



In Kabjdia, where the acreage in figs is constantly being increased, 



this tree bears well up to an altitude of 4,000 feet. More care is given 



by the Kabyles to fig than to olive orchards. The trees are sometimes 



jjeproduced by cuttings, l)ut preferably by root shoots. Pruning is 



Idone during the winter. In rianuary or February the first plowing is 



i^iven, and is followed by several others during the spring. Several 



Ivarieties grown in that district require to be caprified. In other words, 



[in order to set fruit, their flowers mu^t receive pollen from those of 



(the wild fig, and this is carried to them ])y a small insect (Blastophaga) 



[which Jays its eggs in the young flower clusters of the wild fig, or 



[caprifig. The first capritication usually takes place in June, and the 



operation is sometimes repeated three or four times during the sum- 



Imer. The method of the Kabyles is to thread together a few of the 



"male" figs or caprifigs and hang the chaplets thus made over the 



branches of the trees, the flowers of which are to be pollinated. Capri- 



[figs sometimes sell for (> cents a dozen among the natives. In fig 



orchards managed by Europeans the expense of capritication is esti- 



I mated at about $5 per hundred trees. 



