258 FLORIDA FRUITS FIGS. 



CHAPTEE XXVI. 



FIGS. 



This fruit is destined to become one of the staples of 

 Florida. It is of quick and easy growth, and particularly 

 adapted to both soil and climate ; but up to the present 

 time its culture has been carelessly conducted, and but 

 little pains have been taken by the nurserymen of the 

 State to introduce those varieties especially suited for com- 

 mercial purposes, namely, those that are light-colored, and 

 therefore the best when dried for market, and those that 

 that are superior as table fruit. 



Gustav Eisen, of Fresno, California, tells us that the 

 following conditions are highly favorable to fig culture : 



" 1. Abundance of moisture in the soil before the figs 

 begin to ripen. 



1 1 2. Good and perfect drainage at any and all times. 



' * 3. The gradual drying of the soil when the fruit is 

 ripening. 



" 4. Sufficient heat to insure sweetness in the figs. 



"5. Absence of any frost lower than 18 Fahr., though 

 figs can stand 12 if they are tolerably dormant. 



" 6. Absence of heavy rains during the maturing of the 

 fruit. 



"Again, the following conditions are more or less injuri- 

 ous to fig trees, if the object is to procure good fruit for 

 drying or the table : 



" 1. A wet soil, sour from stagnant water, during the 

 fruiting season. 



" 2. Cess-pools, sewers, and ditches in so close proximity 

 that the trees can send their roots to them. 



"3. Heavy and repeated showers of rain during the 



