BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 145 



In the fall of 1917 the fig insect was established in certain old 

 seedling caprifig trees in Brunswick, Ga., and since then a number 

 of other caprifig trees have been similarly treated. Thanks to this 

 local supply of caprifigs, it has been possible to caprify and bring 

 into fruiting many sterile seedling Smyrna fig trees growing in the 

 Southeastern States. Some of these trees bear a very high grade of 

 fruit, very promising for use as fresh fruit or for canning. It is still 

 doubtful whether figs grown in the southeastern United States can be 

 dried to advantage. At any rate, it is a matter of much interest and 

 of some economic significance that many old sterile fig trees in this 

 region are really Smyrna seedlings, approximately half being Smyrna 

 trees and the others caprifig varieties. 



COMMERCIAL DATE CULTURE. 



Date culture, though still conducted on a small scale, is a recog- 

 nized commercial fruit industry which gives promise of steady 

 growth. The culture of the Deglet Noor, the finest of the imported 

 date varieties, has already become well established in California. 



At the present time American methods of date culture are probably 

 more advanced than those of any other date-growing country in the 

 world, in spite of the fact that pur experience is limited to practically 

 two decades. 



NUT INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work with nuts during the past year has been confined largely 

 to pecans and has consisted for the most part in a continuation of 

 studies previously inaugurated, including an investigation of the 

 range of the species, the adaptability of varieties to different regions, 

 methods of propagation, soil improvement, orchard management, 

 and methods or harvesting, curing, packing, and handling the 

 product. 



From a continued study of varieties it appears that a considerable 

 proportion of the varieties now being planted are so far below the 

 general average of the best sorts in production and other important 

 characteristics as to justify their elimination. It is becoming more 

 and more evident that greater attention should be given to the matter 

 of stocks for use in propagating pecans in the nursery. 



A series of irrigation experiments begun during 1917 has been 

 continued, although because of the rather heavy rainfall which has 

 characterized the climatic conditions since the inauguration of these 

 experiments there has been little opportunity to study the influence 

 of the application of water during the dry periods which commonly 

 occur and to which are attributed as a possible cause some of the 

 adverse results experienced, such as the premature dropping of the 

 nuts and other difficulties. 



A series of fertilizer experiments begun in 1918 is being continued. 

 Although the work is of too recent origin to report results, certain 

 records suggest a slight increase in the yield of fertilized trees. 



A further study of varieties is being made in the States bordering 

 the area recognized as definitely within the pecan-growing territory. 

 3 lanters in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, 

 iNHssouri, and Kansas are becoming interested in the possibility of 

 ]/lanting pecans and are seeking information with regard to varieties 

 possessing the necessary qualities when grown under their conditions. 



