Growing Figs in Florida 



Harold Mowry, Gainesville 



The production of figs is at present 

 of minor commercial importance in Flor- 

 ida. Data furnished by the Department 

 of Agriculture at Tallahassee show total 

 plantings of some 20,000 bearing trees 

 of which about 75% are in the northern 

 part of the state. Practically the whole 

 of these plantings is made up of what 

 might be termed door-yard plantings, 

 there being no commercial orchards of 

 importance. Figures furnished by the 

 State Marketing Bureau give an annual 



quate methods of dr}'ing would be de- 

 vised. To grow the Smyrna figs in 

 Florida would necessitate the planting 

 of the Capri fig also, as well as the in- 

 troduction of the insect necesary to cap- 

 rification. Until some of the handi- 

 caps now existing in field culture are 

 overcome there is little likelihood that 

 success would follow such plantings. 



The varieties which compose the ma- 

 jor portion of present plantings are 

 among- those which were recommended 



production of about 25,000 crates which by the American Pomological Society 

 have an approximate valuation of $70,- 

 000. These are sold in local markets, 

 canned, or preserved. Owing to their per- 

 ishable nature no fresh figs are shipped 

 except for short distances. Some at- 

 tempts have been made to place them in 

 northern markets but evidently with lit- 

 tle success as such shipments have not 

 been continued. The canned product, 

 if of good quality, is always in good de- 

 mand. 



Only varieties suitable for marketing 

 wiiile fresh, canning, or preserving, are 

 grown. Little effort has been made to 

 grow the Smyrna type for drying pur- 

 lX)ses. The time of ripening, which oc- 

 curs during the summer rainy season, 

 ])rccludes the drying of the fruits success- 

 fully by open air methods. It is (|uite 

 possible that were the fruit produced 

 cheaply in large enough (|u;intities adc- 



during a meeting of that body held in 

 Florida in 1889. These varieties are: 



Celeste (Celestial, Sugar.) Small to 

 medium in size; pale violet to purplish 

 brown in color ; pulp firm, rose colored, 

 sweet, good quality ; season early, begins 

 ripening latter part of June. Is probably 

 the best for canning purposes. 



Turkey {Broivn Turkey.) Medi- 

 um to large in size ; coppery brown in 

 color ; pulp firm, whitish shading to pink, 

 good quality; season begins about mid- 

 July. 



Brunswick. Large to very large in 

 size; bluish-purple to dark-brown in col- 

 or; pulp soft, white, shading to pink, 

 fair to good (|uality; season begins mid- 

 July or later. 



Lemon. Medium to large in size; yel- 

 in color; pulp soft, white. 



lowish-grcen 



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