FIG CULTURE IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 41 
Belmonte, Longobardi, San Lucido, Scalea, Cleto, Serra di Aiello, 
Fiume-Freddo, Santa Domenica, Majera, Orsomarso, and Verbicaro. 
In the province of Reggio the dried figs are produced for export, 
principally in the vicinity of Reggio, Palma, and Gerace, the latter 
place being especially famous for its dried figs. In Terra di Bari 
the fig regions are found in the vicinity of Moropoli and Turi, the figs 
from the former locality being among the largest and sweetest in 
southern Italy. 
As could be expected, the island of Sicily produces good and sweet 
figs. Foremost are those from the vicinity of Palermo, among which 
may be found the largest figs produced in Italy, almost equaling 
those of Smyrna in size, while exceeding them in sweetness. The 
principal localities for figs in that province are San Fratello and 
Pollina. The Palermo figs do not equal the Smyrna figs in flavor 
and thinness of skin. (Pl. IV.) 
The province of Messina, rich in oranges and lemons, also produces 
good figs, though immediately around Messina no fresh figs are pro- 
dueed, that town importing its supply from the ports of Calabria, on 
the other side of the Straits. The principal export port in the proy- 
ince of Messina is Milazzo. 
In the province of Catania if is especially in the region of Mount 
Etna that superior dried figs are found. The voleanic soils favor the 
drying quality of the figs as well as their sweetness. Figs are also 
prepared for drying in the other parts of Sicily, but nowhere to the 
same extent as in the provinces of Palermo, Messina, and Catania. 
The figs from the island of Lipari are, however, considered superior to 
those grown on the main island. These figs are exported principally 
to Naples and Malta. 
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 
In most of the Italian fig districts the best figs for drying are grown 
on or near the coast of the Mediterranean. The influence of the 
sea, be it through modified heat or through increase in moisture, is 
decidedly beneficial. The climatic conditions for the production of 
figs in southern Italy are almost perfect, and inferior only to those 
of Smyrna in Asia Minor. But for the successful drying of figs, not 
to say curing of figs, the climate of Italy is not the very best. At the 
time of the fig harvest it not infrequently happens that showers, or 
even con.inued rains, set in, injuring or even completely spoiling the 
figs. On that account the growers resort to such measures as splitting 
the figs or drying them by artificial means in primitive ovens. In 
climatic conditions for drying Smyrna is much more favored than 
Italy. The natural rainfall in Italy is slightly less than that of 
Smyrna, but greater than that of southern and central California. 
The irrigation of fig trees is therefore less necessary in Italy than in 
California. 
