THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 5 



The Lob-Ine:ir variety was no doubt propagated from the very best 

 male and female figs by the ancients, and it is doubtful if this variety 

 can be excelled. Lob-Ingir is the Turkish term used to designate the 

 symmetrical shape of this luscious fruit, and is derived from a popular 

 usage of offering fruit, same to be taken at one gulp. The attractive- 

 ness of the fruit is particularly noteworthy. 



PLANTING OF CAPRI TREES. 



In growing Smyrna fig trees it is essential to plant from three to five 

 capri trees to every hundred Smyrna trees, either in a grove by them- 

 selves, where they will be convenient for close observation, or in a segre- 

 gated row running through the center of the orchard. 



A peculiarity of the fig tree is its method of flowering. Other decid- 

 uous trees bloom before the fruit appears, after which the foliage and 

 the fruit grow almost simultaneously. On the fig tree the foliage first 

 appears, with some scattering fig's, which are called early figs or first 

 crop, then branches develop from six to ten inches in length, depending 

 on the age of the tree. This growing period extends from the latter 

 part of INIarch to the fifteenth of May, at which time the tree ceases to 

 branch. Then the figs for the first time are plainly apparent on the 

 tree. Three or four figs appear on the lower part of the branch during 

 the first week of production, two or three more during the second week, 

 and finally one or two more figs appear at the end of the branch during 

 the third Aveek of production. Because the figs do not all mature at the 

 same time, it is absolutely necessary to have the early, medium and late 

 varieties of capri. 



The selection of capri trees requires careful attention. The follow- 

 ing facts will give some idea of different varieties : The INIarkarian 

 No. 2 and Roeding No. 3 ripen very early; the Markarian No. 1 and 

 pseudocarica ripen fairly early ; the Milco is a late capri, which pro- 

 longs the caprification season, thereby fertilizing all the remaining figs 

 on the trees. The pseudocarica has another important feature : the 

 pollen appears on the Mamme, which fertilizes the first crop of Smyrna 

 figs ripening in June. Heretofore all the first crop, or the June figs, 

 went to waste from lack of pollination ; the introduction of pseudocarica, 

 jiowever, will save the early figs, which can be shipped green and bring 

 a handsome profit. 



It is absolutely necessary to plant 60 per cent of the capri trees into 

 the early varieties, as this early capri means the pollination of 70 per 

 cent of the crop. Plant 20 per cent of each of the medium and late 

 varieties, which together pollenize 30 per cent of the crop. My favorite 

 capris are Markarian Nos. 1 and 2, Roeding No. 3, the ]Milco, and 

 pseudocarica. The above are the important varieties, and if desired 

 other less important ones may be added. 



PRUNING SMYRNA FIG TREES. 



Although fig trees do not require as much pruning as other deciduous 

 trees, they should be pruned and shaped up. Allow the trees to branch 

 into forks when they are from sixteen to twenty inches from the ground, 

 because if the trunks are allowed to grow more than two feet, the trees 

 will be liable to bend, will be exposed to frost and sunburn and become 



