December, igii. 



American Bgc JoarnaJj 



The Fig — Its Cultivation and Commercial Value 



By Col. E. S. WEEDEN 



The fig is the most ancient and hon- 

 orable of all fruits. When God set our 

 first parents up in housekeeping. He 

 did not place them in a city flat, but in 

 a garden, and in that garden IJe planted 

 figs. 



The fig tree will yield the largest and 

 surest returns for cash and labor in- 

 vested of any fruit grown. It has a 

 wonderful tenacity for life, and if well 

 planted will sometimes "pull through" 

 without help. 



The illustration shown is taken from 

 trees in an orchard planted by the 

 writer about 1-5 years ago. It has never 

 had any irrigation, cultivation or care 

 whatever, yet the trees were this year 

 loaded with fruit. Trees thus neglected 

 make slow growth, while if planted "in 

 the right place," and given proper care, 

 they will give a showing of fruit the 

 second year — a harvest worth saving 

 the third year, and will return " large 

 interest on a valuation of $1000 an 

 acre " when 6 years old. Such an or- 

 chard would require but little care after 



The purple fig is common in Texas 

 and the Southern States generally, but 

 it is a small perishable fruit fit only for 

 home and local consumption. The fig 

 of commerce is an "arid fruit," and re- 

 quires an arid climate. The unseason- 

 able rains, common in a humid climate, 

 would cause it to sour, or destroy it at 

 harvest-time, while the occasional bliz- 

 zards that kill orange trees and play 

 such sad havoc with garden truck, would 

 utterly exterminate the fig. Even 

 where exposed to ocean winds and 

 fogs, as in parts of Southern California, 

 the fruit sours, and when its roots pene- 

 trate to water (and they often go down 

 20 to .30 feet), the fruit while large and 

 showy is worthless, as it is sour. 



While this fruit can be grown over a 

 large part of California, yet to insure 

 success, it is vitally important to use 

 intelligent care in choosing a location. 

 The red soil of the low foothills, and 

 the warm, protected interior valleys, is 

 where the fig loves to live, and where 

 it makes a wonderful success. It is 



A Part of a Large Kig Orchard Near Oroville, Calif. 



the 4th year, and its harvests are sure, 

 increasing in value for hundreds of 

 years. Not only is the yield enormous, 

 but no other fruit is so cheaply har- 

 vested. It is commonly spoken of as 

 yielding three crops a year; perhaps it 

 would be more accurate to say that it 

 yields a continuous harvest from about 

 the last of July to the last of Septem- 

 ber. When mature, it dries on the 

 tree, then falls to the ground, and 

 should be gathered twice a week — or, 

 better still, every other day. It is "a 

 boy's work," and there need be no such 

 "nervous haste" to prevent loss as is 

 common with other crops. 



During the period it is maturing, 

 there is never a drop of rain nor a bit 

 of dew — only continuous California 

 sunshine. Think of a man with 20 acres 

 of figs, requiring his attention only 

 about 3 months, with all the rest of the 

 year to be utilized in other work. 

 Think of the large and sure returns. 

 The fig iicTer fails. 



Commercial figs can not be profitably 

 grown in the United States outside of 

 California and a small part of Arizona. 



the worst of unwisdom to plant any 

 fruit where it will not be "«/ ils besl." 



There are over 40 varieties of figs, 

 yet of these only 3 are commonly 

 planted, although a number of other 

 varieties are known to be of large value. 

 The Smyrna leads all in quality, and 

 easily commands the larger price, but 

 the tree is small and can yield only a 

 small harvest, and it requires more 

 care, so that notwithstanding its good 

 qualities, other varieties are more gen- 

 erally planted. 



The black fig is rich in food proper- 

 ties, grows to phenomenal size, yields 

 an enormous harvest, and generally 

 commands a better price than any other 

 save the Smyrna. The White Adriatic 

 is a close rival, if not the equal, of the 

 black fig. In fact, the commercial value 

 of these three are so nearly equal that 

 the grower generally says, "Either one 

 is good enough." 



There are black fig trees in this State 

 GO or 70 years old. Some of them are 

 11 feet in circumference, over liO feet 

 high, with a spread of limbs of over 70 

 feet. These never fail \w a uniform 

 harvest of one to two tons each. Fig 



trees are commonly planted 40 to 50 on 

 an acre. 



Formerly the fruit brought about 

 $40 per ton, but it has steadily grown in 

 favor with the people, and increased in 

 price, so this year's crop has sold for 

 $y0 a ton. 



As a fruit to be consumed while 

 fresh, the fig has few superiors. Figs 

 and cream rank with peaches, straw- 

 berries or blackberries, while as a 

 healthful, nutritious food it is vastly 

 superior to any of them. 



Overproduction is unthinkable. We 

 are now importing millions of dollars 

 worth every year. The consumption 

 of this fruit is increasing far more 

 rapidly than the production. This is 

 partly because of the steady increase in 

 population, but largely because our 

 people are becoming acquainted with 

 the great value of the fruit as food. 



Besides this, figs make profitable feed 

 for poultry, hogs, and other stock at 

 $100 a ton. This is not a mere surmise, 

 but, on the contrary, it has been thor- 

 oughly tested for years, and there are 

 a good many orchards now devoted 

 entirely to such purposes. 



Oroville, Calif. 



[Should any reader of the American 

 Bee Journal desire to know more about 

 the fig-growing business. Col. Weeden 

 will be pleased to answer enquiries by 

 mail. We have known the Colonel 

 for over 25 years, and he is all right. — 

 Editor.] 



Wanted 

 HONEY 



Both COMB and EXTRACTED 



Write us before dispos- 

 ing of your Honey Crop. 





Beeswax 



—WANTED— 





HILDRETH & SEGELKEN, 



265-267 Greenwich SL, 



NEW YORK, N. Y. 



Beeswax Wanted.— We are payiji? 28 

 cents, cash, per pound for good, pure yellow 

 beeswax delivered at our office. If you 

 want the money promptly for your beeswax, 

 ship it to us, either by express or freight. A 

 strong bag is the best in which to ship bees- 

 wax. Quantity and distance from Chicago 

 should decide as to freight or express. Per- 

 haps under 25 pounds would better be sent 

 by express, if distance is not too great. Ad- 

 dress. George W. York & Co.. 



117 N. Jefferson St.. Chicago, III. 



