INTRODUCTORY. 21 
word for fig was ‘‘bak-ou,” and Syria was often referred to as a coun- 
try rich in wine, oil, and bak-ou.! 
With the discovery of the New World the edible fig obtained a 
foothold in all the countries visited by the Spanish and Portuguese 
missionaries. Figs of different and distinct species were found by 
them growing in the tropical parts of Mexico, Central America, and 
South America, but these native figs were inferior to those brought 
over the Atlantic. It is to these Spanish missionaries that we owe the 
introduction of figs into California, and the ‘‘ Mission” black fig is 
yet the most important and most widely distributed variety in all 
American countries Christianized by missionaries from Spain. This 
*‘Mission” fig is extensively distributed over the northern parts of 
Mexico as well as over Baja and Alta California, Peru, and Chile, 
while a smaller and slightly different variety is found in the highlands 
of Mexico and Central America. 
To the Southern States of the United States the fig was brought 
principally by the French in the earliest days of their occupation, 
while later many varieties were imported from English nurseries. Of 
late years California has been the great distributing point of fig trees, 
some enterprising growers having made many direct importations of 
varieties from the Mediterranean districts, and these varieties have 
since found their way to Florida and other States. 
It is interesting to note that while California has progressed enor- 
mously in fig culture and now possesses over a hundred varieties of 
figs imported from various parts of the world, its neighboring States, 
Sonora and Baja California, which are so preeminently suited to fig 
culture, are yet ignorant of the existence of other figs than the 
** Mission.” 
BOTANY OF THE FIG. 
*“Genus,” ‘‘species,” and ‘‘ variety” are words used frequently in 
these pages, and must be thoroughly understood by anyone who wishes 
to master the principles of horticulture. In order to properly name, 
know, and classify plants they have been primarily arranged and 
grouped together according to their relationships “and similarity. 
Thus all roses, wild and cultivated, are grouped and called by a 
common name—fRosa. This, then, is a genus, and the word Rosa 
is called a genus name. Similarly all figs, wild and otherwise, which 
resemble one another in certain respects are grouped together under ¢ 
general genus called Ficus. There are a great many different kinds, 
originally wild, of roses and figs. Each one of these is called a spe- 
cies and is given a separate name. Such as the dogrose is known as 
Rosa canina and the edible fig is known as Ficus carica. There are 
many different edible figs, and these are called varieties or forms. 
'Chabas, p. 105. 
