166 THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 



matter of natural pollination. With the recognition of the 

 part played by the blastophaga, the selection of suitable locali- 

 ties where this insect could withstand the climate was all 

 that remained to establish beyond controversy that Smyrna 

 fig raising is practicable in this country. Already there are 

 a few profitable acres of them in California, and many or- 

 chards of them are now being planted. New Mexico, Ari- 

 zona and Texas also offer especially promising localities. The 

 blastophaga will flourish in any dry climate where there is 

 little frost. 



The relation of the Smyrna fig to that of other figs is anal- 

 ogous to that of the Washington navel orange to the common 

 orange. The new home-grown fig is destined not only to 

 supply the home market, but it will enter into competition 

 with the Oriental variety everywhere. Moreover, there is 

 reason to believe that the superior product, the modern meth- 

 ods of curing and packing, the cleanliness in handling a 

 condition unknown in Eastern lands and the elimination 

 and the prevention of the development of the disgusting 

 worms so often found in foreign figs will be a telling factor 

 in the wider popularity of the fruit and the increasing of the 

 demand. 



The commercial cultivation of the date palm also is to be 

 undertaken in Arizona, New Mexico, and in the extreme 

 southern portion of California. This palm requires for the 

 maturing of its fruit a long, dry, excessively hot Summer, 

 but its roots must be constantly supplied with an abundance 

 of water. Irrigation effects the latter, the climatic condi- 

 tions being found in the regions named. There is a low-lying 

 valley in southern California which may be readily irrigated, 

 and where the Summers are long and cloudless and the reg- 



