VARIOUS SPECIES OF FRUITS 129 



Throughout the South moist, heavy soils are considered best, 

 though for home plantings lighter soils, if well packed or if close to 

 dwellings where other plants have not been allowed to grow, give 

 good results. Moisture in the soil is essential. Figs are almost 

 sure to fail on dry soils. In sandy soils they are likely soon to die 

 from the attacks of nematodes (eel worms) which live upon the roots; 

 in heavy soils they thrive in spite of these worms. 



In the Atlantic and the Gulf States Figs may be set 10 or 15 feet 

 apart; in California 40 or 50 feet because of the larger size to which 

 the trees grow. Planting is done in January or February in the 

 more Southern States; March or April farther North. Special care 

 must be taken to prevent drying of the roots. Figs in the Southeast 

 are trained in bush form, with three to five stems, as losses due to frost 

 are thereby reduced; in the Southwest usually with only one trunk. 

 For the former method the plants are cut back severely when set in 

 the ground. Pruning consists in removing unnecessary suckers, dead, 

 injured and crossing branches, and in shaping the bush during the 

 first three or four seasons. Branches should never be cut to stubs 

 but always entirely removed back to the point of their origin. The 

 less pruning of the Fig the better. 



Since Figs are shallow-rooted, no plowing or digging near the 

 plants is possible. After the first year or two cultivation must also be 

 of the shallowest nature near the plants. In home plantations the 

 scuffle hoe is perhaps the safest tool to use. Tillage should start when 

 growth starts in Spring and continue till Midsummer, or later for 

 late varieties. Manure and commercial fertilizers may be applied freely. 

 Southern Figs are mostly used fresh or canned; few if any are 

 dried. California Figs are used in all three ways. The fresh fruit 

 is of honey sweetness and of a peculiar flavor often not at first relished 

 by Northern people, but very much enjoyed by people who like sweet 

 fruits. In California about thirty varieties are very popular either 

 commercially or in amateur plantings. Among these are the following, 

 which are also popular in the Southeastern and the Gulf States. None 

 of these need artificial pollination as the Smyrna Fig does. Because 

 of this fact and the difficulties in the way of its successful cultivation 

 Smyrna Fig growing is not discussed in this volume. 

 BLACK ISCHIA. A late bluish black, creamy white fleshed variety of good 



flavor. Though a strong grower it is not fully hardy or very prolific. 

 CELESTE. Early, violet to purplish brown, white fleshed, juicy, sweet and of 



excellent flavor. Remarkably hardy. Specially valuable for canning. 

 TURKEY (Brown Turkey). A very hardy and prolific mid-season, brown, 



pear-shaped, medium fruit with white flesh of excellent quality. 

 Other good varieties are BRUNSWICK, WHITE GENOA, WHITE ISCHIA, 



and MAGNOLIA. The last is the favorite for canning in the Gulf States. 



