FIGS. 261 



of figs, and it is the fault of the producers that this is the 

 case. The public are always ready to seize upon a good 

 article, when it is made known to them as such. So long 

 as the fruit growers exercise so little care and wisdom as to 

 plant inferior sorts of figs, because they are larger than the 

 more delicate kinds, just so long will the people care little 

 for them in their fresh state, not knowing how excellent a 

 fruit they might have. 



Let the fruit growers of Florida and California set out 

 the small, finely flavored varieties of figs, and there will 

 soon be a demand throughout the country for all that they 

 can raise. 



It is true, as urged by the former, that the coarser kinds, 

 such as the Brown Turkey, Mission, and Brunswick, are 

 hardier and easier to raise than the others ; but there are 

 many localities in both the great fig-growing States, Flor- 

 ida and California in fact, through all the length and 

 breadth of the former where the finer and more delicate 

 sorts could be raised without the least danger of loss by 

 frost. Let our growers try it, and they will soon find that 

 the fig is one of the most profitable fruits that can be 

 placed on the general markets, either fresh, preserved, or 

 dried. 



Already here and there in Florida a few wide-awake, en- 

 terprising men are establishing factories, where limes, figs, 

 m oranges, citrons, guavas, and any other fruits that can be 

 obtained, are being prepared for market in the shape of 

 pickles, preserves, dried fruits, jellies, marmalades, and 

 wines. The only trouble is that they can not procure 

 enough material to keep them busy, except in the one 

 item of oranges, the others not yet being raised in suffi- 

 ciently large quantities. 



For instance, this past year, at St. Augustine, Mr. S. B. 

 Vails, during the height of the fig season, preserved about 



