14 



THE SMYRNA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 



close to an ancient Roman aqueduct, I happened to find a tree with the Profichi or male 

 crop just commencing to mature. Very much elated I returned to Smyrna, and on 

 the following morning started for the interior. Having learned meanwhile that the 

 climate of the great fig district was very similar to that of Smyrna, I was satisfied 

 I had arrived just in time to watch the workings of the insects in this the most 

 vital stage. 



Type of Entrance to a Smyrna Fig Garden in the Herbeyli District. 

 Reduced from an original photograph. 



The first forty-eight miles after our train leaves Smyrna is a rather undulating 

 plain, with vineyards here and there, but the leading industry is the raising of cereal 

 crops. To see the natives harvest a crop is a sight which to an American closely 

 approaches the ridiculous. The laborers gather a few sheaves of the barley and 

 wheat in their hands, and cut it with a small hand scythe. Even with cheap labor, 

 this ancient manner of harvesting is rather expensive, but in all the great grain 

 districts this is the plan usually followed. 



Ayassoulook is the first station of any importance in the fig district. It is 

 situated close to the ancient ruins of Efrhesus, the plateau being rather low and 

 swampy. It is on the higher lands after leaving this point that the first fig orchards 

 are to be seen. An agent of the Ottoman Railroad, who spoke excellent English, 

 happened to be in our compartment during the trip, and from him I obtained much 

 information of value in reference to the Smyrna figs. After our train left Ayassoulook 

 the railroad ascends a steep grade, going high into the upper foothills, and then by 

 a pass it reaches Balachik, practically the commencement of the great fig district 

 of the Maeander Valley. 



The orchards close to Ephesus comprise several hundred acres, bounded by the 

 railroad on one side, and the ruins of Ephesus on the other. The Maeander Valley 

 practically grows all the figs for export. It is about 200 miles long and from six to 

 ten miles wide. The orchard district proper is not over ninety miles long; commences 



