LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 
U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
DIVISION OF POMOLOGY, 
Washington, D. C., June 14, 1901. 
Str: I have the honor to transmit herewith, and to reeommend for 
publication as a bulletin of this division, the manuscript of an article 
on The Fig: Its History, Culture, and Curing, with a descriptive cata- 
logue of the known varieties of figs, prepared by Dr. Gustav Eisen, of 
San Francisco, Cal. 
Dr. Eisen is too well known as an author of high standing to need 
any introduction to the horticultural world. His name earries with it 
a guaranty of the value of this, his latest work. 
The recent successful introduction of the blastophaga into the fig- 
growing sections of the United States by the Department of Agricul- 
ture almost certainly assures the production of first-class Smyrna figs, 
which will doubtless greatly encourage and stimulate the industry, 
and thereby create an increase in the demand for reliable literature 
on the subject. 
This comprehensive treatise contains information of value to the 
scientific and practical fruit grower never before published in the form 
in which it is here presented. 
Very respectfully, G. B. BRACKETT, 
Pomologist. 
Hon. JAMES WILSON, 
Secretary. 
