; 
i. 
| 
FIG CULTURE IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 37 
eaprifig that at times ship loads are exported to Smyrna to serve in 
caprification when the native caprifigs fail to yield on account of 
unfavorable seasons. The French botanists, Tournefort and Olivier, 
who were greatly prejudiced against caprification, tried to prove its 
worthlessness by the fact that Greek peasants had been seen to sus- 
pend oak galls and excrescences of elms and poplars in the fig trees 
instead of caprifigs. Such foreign substances could naturally have 
no effect in pollinating the figs, and the figs so practiced on would 
have set in any case. This observation of the botanists in question 
shows that in Greece varieties are grown which are similar to those 
we have in this country and which require no caprification in order to 
produce figs. 
Among the most interesting of the Greek caprifigs is the variety 
known as Erinosyce. This fig, which bears caprifigs as a first crop, 
produces a second crop of edible figs. A somewhat similar fig has 
been found in Brittany and lately also in California. 
FIGS IN NORTHERN AFRICA. 
EGYPT AND KABYLIA. 
Figs have been grown in Egypt since very ancient times, but still 
that country cuts a comparatively small figure in the fig market of 
the world. Though some 2,000,000 pounds of dried figs are exported 
every year, they are of inferior quality and are used principally for 
the production of spirits and the adulteration of coffee or the manu- 
facture of imitation ‘‘ coffe.” A much more important fig district than 
Egypt is found in Kabylia. This district, which is a part of Algeria, 
is situated east of the city of Algiers and extends from Dellys 
to Bougie. The principal town in this district, Tizi Ouzou, is sur- 
rounded by the largest fig district in the world outside of Smyrna. 
Not only are figs exported in large quantities, but the whole native 
population subsists on figs for many months in the year. The 
following account of the fig industry in the district is mainly from 
Hanoteau and Letourneux: 
Fig culture in Kabylia. 
Localities.—The fig flourishes everywhere and is found not only in the lower 
levels, but to an altitude of over 3,000 feet. In the vicinity of Ait Ouaban it 
reaches to the zone of the cedars. 
Varieties.—The Kabyles distinguish some twenty-eight varieties of edible figs, 
besides a nuinber of caprifigs used exclusively for capritication. Of the iatter 
there are four distinct kinds. The edible figs are either white or black. 
White varieties.—Abakour amellal (early white), Ar’‘nim, Thar’animt, Tha- 
bouhiaboult, Abouh‘archaou, Thazerat, Thadhefouith, Thamellalt, Thar’elit, Tha- 
ameriouth, Thabellout’, Aberzigzaou, Thaouassifth, A boulil, Abouzouggar’, Tha- 
kournennaith (the round). . 
Violet varieties.—Abakour aberkan (early black), Ajenjar, Azaich, Thazaicht, 
El-Hadj, Abelrendjour, Mezzith, Aouhalal, Ar’animaberkan, Thabouhiaboult, 
Thaberkant, Abouremman, Azagour guilef (Boar's back). 
