FIG CULTURE IN VARIOUS FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 6¢ 
figs, which are black and of the Mission variety, are grown principally 
in the central portion of the peninsula, from Purisima-and Comondu 
to La Paz. Irrigation is required, as rains are seldom of sufficient 
quantity to sustain the tree and mature its fruit, except possibly in 
the mountain regions in the vicinity of natural springs or creeks. 
Nowhere is less care taken in the cultivation of figs and in prepar- 
ing them for market. The figs are simply dried on the smooth ground, 
on the top of the flat-roofed houses, on mats, or on anything else con- 
venient. When dried and shriveled they are packed in 100-pound 
packages, the receptacles being made of rawhide of cattle and sewed 
together. These packages are very strong and stand the roughest 
handling. The figs are sticky, sirupy, and sweet, but inferior from 
want of care in curing and handling. They are sweeter than the 
same variety dried in California, and as well flavored as this kind of 
figs can be. Considerable quantities of black Mission figs are dried 
at Purisima. These figs are split before drying and sprinkled with 
anise seed. They are very good. The brebas are here used for dry- 
ing in preference to the later crop. 
In the mountains of the cape region from La Paz to San Jose del 
Cabo wild figs called the ‘‘ Salate” are not uncommon, especially at a 
height of 1,000 to 3,000 feet in the canyons or on the northern slopes. 
This fig tree (Ficus palmer’), which carries a small, edible, round fig 
of poorest quality, is an evergreen tree. 
The climate for producing superior figs is unexcelled on this penin- 
sula, and there is no doubt that Baja California has a great future as 
a fig-growing country. In Sonora, on the Mexican mainland, two or 
more species of evergreen wild figs are found in the mountains, all 
having edible fruits, but small and of poor quality. The writer saw no 
variety in Sonora except the Mission black fig (P1. VI, fig. 1), the fruit of 
which is consumed fresh. The black brebas or first-crop figs are large 
and really very fine. They ripen in May and havea great local reputa- 
tion, the greater as fruits of all kinds are comparatively scarce iu 
Sonora. No dried figs are prepared in Sonora; at least none worth 
mentioning. Still it is believed the climate would be suitable. The 
brebas or first crop is ended in May, and the second crop matures in 
July. It could be dried and all out of the way before the rain sets in. 
The climate of this part of Mexico and Baja California is dry, but 
the air is damper than in upper California. Rain falls from June or 
July to November. The dry season extends from November to June 
or longer. Little rain falls, and after a shower the ground dries 
quickly. [Frost is rare. In summer the thermometer frequently 
reaches 115°, especially around Hermosillo and Guaymas. 
23740—No. 9—O1 5) 
