mo) 
FIG CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 65 
will only be made to a few of the most prominent of such introdue- 
tions. While there has undoubtedly been a number of small importa- 
tions, there are a few which require special mention. 
In the mountainous parts of central California we find Felix Gillet 
as one importer of French fig varieties. In Stockton, W. B. West 
imported from various countries. John Rock, of Niles, has at vari- 
ous times brought large collections of figs to this State. G. P. 
Rixford was the first to bring the true Smyrna figs here direct from 
Smyrna in 1880, while in southern California the late John Grelck, a 
horticulturist of great knowledge and foresight, imported and dis- 
tributed many valuable French figs. Another importer who should 
not be forgotten—his enthusiasm was certainly very great—was the 
late G. N. Mileo, of Stockton, who brought a number of Dalmatian 
figs (Cernica, Zimitza, Kargigna) to California. Between 1882 and 
1885 the author imported some 50 varieties of figs from France. In 
the latter year W. C. West was sent by F. Roeding to Smyrna and sub- 
sequently sent here several varieties of Smyrna figs. F. Pohndorff, 
then of Niles or vicinity, imported the WhiteSan Pedro under the name 
of Breba from Spain and distributed it in this country in 1883 or 1884. 
Dr. J. D. B. Stillman, of Lugonia, visited Smyrna in 1878 and selected 
Smyrna cuttings, which were, it is supposed, finally planted in Cali- 
fornia. Nothing came of this importation, as the box containing the 
cuttings could not be traced with certainty after its arrival here, and 
the figs which Dr. Stillman supposed to be Smyrna figs were proven 
afterwards to be brown Turkey, and undoubtedly never came from 
Smyrna. Finally, it may be added, a Greek gentleman, Mr. Honche- 
renko, lately living somewhere between Niles and San Ramon Valley, 
has imported and grown a number of varieties from his native country. 
One of the earliest importers was W. B. West, than whom none is 
more worthy of being remembered. - In 18535 he imported from Hovey 
& Co., of Boston, White Genoa, White Marseilles, White Ischia, 
Brown Ischia, Brunswick, and Brown Turkey, which figs were all 
propagated and widely distributed over the State. In 1869 Mr. 
West imported from France, through English houses, from 28 to 30 
varieties of figs for the table and some for drying. They came via 
Panama in good order. He saved 16 varieties, but found only a few 
of them of any value in Stockton. Among these figs Mr. West 
received the Adriatic under another name (Verdoni?), now forgotten 
by him, and it is probable that to this importation the large grove 
of Adriatics at Knights Ferry, in Calaveras County, Cal., owes its 
origin. A few years later, in 1878, Mr. West went to the Mediterra- 
nean to study fruit culture. He selected there several varieties of 
figs, of which he has, however, unfortunately destroyed the record; 
but among these figs was the famous Neapolitan fig ‘‘Trojano.” This 
fig did not prove satisfactory at Stockton and was never distributed. 
