51 



FIG CULTUEE 



By J. ELIOT COIT, Professor of Citrieulture 



There were in 1910, 5380 acres planted to figs in California, and there has 

 been much additional planting since that time. About one-half the fig trees 

 of the state are grown in Fresno County. The average consumption of dried 

 figs in the United States for the last ten years was 12,100 tons per year. Only 

 one-fourth this amount is produced in California, about one million dollars worth 

 being imported from Turkey each year. 



While in many 'parts of California from Shasta to Imperial County, figs 

 grow and produce fruit suitable for eating fresh, the production of dried figs on 

 a commercial scale is limited largely to the San Joaquin Valley, where the 

 climatic conditions permit out-door drying and curing. 



In sections where the natural rainfall is sufficient for figs to be grown 

 without irrigation, good land may be had at from $75 to $125 an acre. Where 

 irrigation is necessary the cost of land with rights to sufficient water for an 

 established irrigation system will vary from $150 to $200 an acre. In much 

 of the available fig land the water table is near the surface. For best results 

 the water table should not be nearer than ten feet. When nearer than this 

 the value of the land should be discounted and when nearer than four feet 

 figs should not be planted. 



Fig trees come into bearing in three to five years, and should be in full 

 bearing at twelve years of age. Where irrigation is not practiced the cost of 

 bringing an orchard into bearing will vary from $40 to $70 an acre. Where 

 irrigated the cost will run from $100 to $250. 



AVERAGE COST OF BRINGING FIG ORCHARD TO BEARING 



Fifty trees at 20 cents $10.00 



Plowing 4.00 



Grading 10.00 



Irrigating system 20.00 



Planting 3.00 



Cultivating, irrigating, cost of pumped water 200.00 



Cost of land (from $150 to $250 per acre) 200.00 



Total investment at beginning of sixth year $447.00 



This figure may be reduced by raising interculture crops between the trees. 

 The cost of operating a bearing fig orchard, including harvesting, taxes, interest, 

 etc., will vary from $75 to $100 per acre per year. It is not the custom to rent 

 fig properties in California. 



The yields to be expected vary widely, but averaging the good and poor 

 seasons together, they may be expected to be somewhat as follows: Mission, 

 2~y 2 to 3y 2 tons per acre; Adriatic, 2 to 2% tons; Smyrna, 1% to 2 tons. 



The fig grower at present is at a great disadvantage in marketing his crop. 

 No co-operative selling organization exists, although there is a great need for 

 one. Under present conditions the grower may receive from the packers for 

 the Mission two cents, for Adriatic three and a half cents, and for the Smyrna 

 five to s'ix cents per pound on a sweat-box basis. At present the Adriatic is 



