856 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



account given of its introduction and cultural development in America. Methods of 

 fig culture and commerce now observed in Smyrna and Asia Minor, Greece, Northern 

 Africa, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, England, Southern United States, Mexico, and 

 California are given in detail. Methods of capritication are explained at length; the 

 necessity of this practice with some varieties, especially Smyrna varieties, pointed 

 out, and the life history of BJastuphaga grossorum explained. Different chapters are 

 devoted to climatic conditions under which figs will thrive, methods of fig propaga- 

 tion, planting the orchard, pruning, irrigation, diseases and insect injuries, drying 

 and curing, packing, shipping fresh tigs, and describing figs. All the known varie- 

 ties of figs, including Smyrna and caprifigs, are catalogued alphabetically and briefly 

 described, synonyms being noted and illustrations given of some varieties. Follow- 

 ing this are chapters on the chemical analysis of a largo numl)er of fig soils and food 

 analysis of figs, statistics on the production and imi)ortation of figs, together with 

 tables of temperature, precipitation, and humidity in the princii^al fig regions of the 

 world; and household recipes for prei)aring and using figs. The bulletin closes with 

 a bibliography consisting of 173 references to fig literature. 



The fig in Australia ( Quremland Agr. Jour., 9 {1901), No. 4, pp. 405, 406) . — The 

 writer states that a few trees of the Smyrna fig have been jjlanted in Australia, two 

 of which at least have borne fruit. Relative to the caprification of Smyrna figs the 

 article states as follows: 



"The blastophaga being so minute, it is impossible for it to carry sufficient pollen 

 into the fig to cause fertilization. Its entrance simply causes decay or preniatvire 

 ripening, such as a grub will do when it lias entered a pear or ai>ple, producing decay 

 by its own death. The custom of caprification is fast becoming a thing of the past. 

 According to the investigations of modern science, it is jiroved to be not only unneces- 

 sary but positively injurious to the fig. May not the cause of figs falling off the 

 trees before they reach the stage of maturity be improper kinds, unsuitable locali- 

 ties, and, last but not least, the absence of knowledge of proper and judicious 

 pruning? And the cause of not placing them upon the markets equally as good as 

 those imported is the want of knowledge and exjierience as to their proper treatment 

 during the process of drying." 



Notes on fig drying, C. H. Gorman {Agr. Gaz. Nnv South Walea, 12 {1901), 

 No. 3, 2JP- .■>H7-3(!9; ohd. in California Fruit Grower, 26 {1901), No. 676, p. .?).— The 

 experience of the author in drying figs in New South Wales is recorded. The figs 

 are cut from the trees and placed on trays similar to raisin traj^s as soon as the figs 

 begin to milk and show small white seams. They are dried in the sun and turned 

 every day like raisins. The crop is considered sufficiently dry when the figs have 

 the same api)earance in the morning as in the evening. Should they show a swelled 

 appearance in the morning they require further drying. They must not, however, 

 be over dried, as this gives them a cooked and earthy taste which (;an not be removed 

 and which greatly injures their value. It requires from 5 to 12 days to dry the figs, 

 according to the weather. After the figs are dry they may be dumjjed in sweat 

 boxes, but it is desirable to pack as soon as possible. Before packing, the figs are 

 dipped in a kettle or tub of boiling water in which has been dissolve<l coarse rock 

 salt. Sea water may be used if available. About 8 big handfuls of rock salt per 

 gallon is considered enough. Immediately after dipping the figs are thumbed, work- 

 ing the eye of the fig downward and the stalk upward, to give the appearance of 

 Smyrna figs as packed in 1 lb. boxes. 



Grafting with summer shoots, K. Fetiscii {Dent. Landw. Presse, 28 {1901), No. 

 68, pp. 584, 585). — The author states that the general opinion that grafting is suited 

 only for spring operations and that Inidding must be practiced in summer instead, 

 needs qualification. In his own experience summer-grafted trees have not only 

 united well, but liave produced an especially good growth the following season. 

 Apples and pears are especially suited to summer grafting, but good results have 



