FIG CULTURE IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 61 
FIG CULTURE IN THE SOUTHERN STATES OF NORTH AMERICA. 
While the fig tree grows and bears well in the Southern and Gulf 
States of the United States of America, it is not raised there as a com- 
mercial product, except on a very limited scale. The cause must be 
sought in the climate of the region, so unlike that found in the Medi- 
terranean districts. While in the latter the winters are mild, with 
few frosts and rainless summers, the Southern States are frequently 
visited by heavy winter or spring frosts, the summers being more or 
less rainy. In the winter the trees are often killed or seriously 
injured by frost, while in the wet summers the figs rot and mold, and 
drying out of doors is made difficult. 
In favorable seasons only do the figs attain a certain perfection in 
maturity and sweetness and are then very good and palatable. Even 
in such season drying and curing out of doors is not attended with sue- 
cess. As a consequence no large fig plantations exist in these States, 
the tree being principally grown for home use. In such capacity it 
is found everywhere, especially toward the extreme south, along 
the Gulf of Mexico. While the fig may not be profitably grown in the 
Southern States, if the object is to prepare them by drying for the 
markets, it is nevertheless certain that fig culture may there be made 
profitable. For canning, making jams, jellies, fig sauce, and other 
fig preserves, the fig of the Southern States may be made available 
with little expense or difficulty. Of late years a most delicious pre- 
serve is made from the Celeste fig. It is being extensively placed on 
the market in the form of canned goods, and is considered by some 
persons as superior to any put up for commercial purposes in any of 
the Pacific States. In Louisiana and in parts of Texas the fig does well 
and requires no especial care in cultivation. In the pine lands of 
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina they 
require more attention in the way of fertilizing to produce favorable 
erops. Of late years Florida fruit growers have given considerable 
attention to fig growing, but the results have not yet been such as to 
warrant extended plantations. The rainy summers are the principal 
drawback to the perfect ripening of the fruit. 
GEORGIA, 
In the Gulf region, especially near the coast, many varieties do 
exceedingly well and produce very delicious figs, but of a regular fig 
industry there is no trace. In time it may come. The following 
account is from letters received from Mr. P. J. Berekmans, of Augusta, 
Ga. It plainly shows that very much remains to be done for fig cui- 
ture in that vicinity: 
Here we cultivate with success Brown Turkey, Celestial, Green Ischia, Black 
Ischia, and Brunswick. These are, all things considered, the most desirable kinds 
and are usually found under cultivation. I havesome 20 varieties, of which some 
are occasionally successful, but not as reliable as those named above. Of this 
class I name: Blue Genoa, good but not prolific; Violette Ronde and Violette 
Longue, both of fair quality, but unproductive and apt to crack before maturity; 
