264 FLORIDA FRUITS FIGS. 



The experiment of shipping fresh figs from Florida to 

 the Northern markets has already been made with eminent 

 success. They were sent in refrigerator cars, carefully 

 packed in quart boxes, and, having been picked just before 

 maturity, they ripened in transit, and arrived in perfect 

 order, bringing the splendid price of forty cents a quart, 

 when even at one half of that amount they would have 

 given a very large profit. 



There is no doubt whatever that if good, sweet, ripe figs 

 are thus sent to the Northern cities in quantities, they will 

 soon be sought after as a dessert fruit ; they only need to 

 be known to become exceedingly popular, just as they are 

 in Europe. 



The true Smyrna fig, the dried fig of commerce, has not 

 yet been introduced into Florida, although several impor- 

 tations of alleged cuttings have been made in California ; 

 upon fruiting, however, they were found not to bear the 

 true Smyrna fig. Recently it has been proven that the 

 agents of the importers were deceived in the cuttings ; the 

 true Smyrna fig tree or cuttings not being allowed to be 

 sent out of the country. Seeds from the imported figs 

 themselves will, however, germinate, and thence our sup- 

 ply must come. 



The principal varieties of the fig now cultivated in 

 Florida are as follows: 



ANGELIQUE, OR EARLY LEMON. 



Small ; greenish yellow ; fine flavored ; early. 



BRUNSWICK, OR MADONNA. 



Very large ; violet ; good, and very productive. 



BLACK ISCHIA. 



Medium size ; bluish-black ; very good quality. 



