40 THE SMYRNA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 



the trees ranging from ten to fifteen feet high. They have never been irrigated, but 

 have been cultivated. They have born this year an abundance of fruit, which, while 

 it remained on the tree, has not matured. The figs are about the size of a pigeon's 

 egg, the receptacle well filled with flowers, but so far I have not observed any seed. 

 My impression is that the forces of the tree have been expended making wood in- 

 stead of fruit." 



In the year 1886, Mr. F. Roeding, Proprietor of the Fancher Creek Nursery, after 

 having given the White Adriatic, then the most popular fig for drying purposes in 

 this state, a thorough trial, was convinced it could never be made to equal the 

 Smyrna Fig; hence decided to send Mr. W. C. West, then in his employ, to Smyrna, 

 for the purpose of investigating the fig industry on that spot, to secure a variety of 

 cuttings and all possible information for the successful prosecution of experimental 

 planting. 



Mr. West did not reach Smyrna until October. Owing to the jealousy of the in- 

 habitants in general, and the prohibitive policy of the government in not allowing trees 

 or cuttings of any kind to be exported, he met with some difficulties. However, with the 

 assistance of an Englishman and a Greek, both of whom were residents of Smyrna, 

 he ultimately succeeded in obtaining cuttings. Twenty odd thousand of the true 

 Lop or Commercial Fig were taken in the vicinity of Herbeyli, several thousand 

 Wild or Capri fig cuttings; several hundred each of Kassaba, Bardajic and Cheker 

 Injir were also secured in other districts. In addition to these, numerous cuttings 

 and seeds were obtained of various plants and trees, the total weight of which was 

 about ten tons. The consignment came via London, but Mr. West having found that 

 the expense of transportation would be enormous, abandoned half the shipment 

 of the Lop fig cuttings, and forwarded the remainder. More or less delay was ex- 

 perienced in London, and the cuttings for this reason did not arrive in Fresno until 

 May 24, 1887. The cuttings were in an excellent state of preservation, being 

 packed in moist sawdust in paper lined cases; many of them had commenced 

 to callous, and send out young rootlets. They were immediately planted in a nursery 

 rows, and were given the very best of care and attention, revertheless a large 

 percentage of them went back after starting, the warm weather having already set in. 



In the year 1890, Mr. H. E. Van Deman, chief of the Division of Pomology of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, imported a number of cuttings of the Wild 

 or Capri Fig direct from Turkey Asia, and distributed them among a number of 

 parties in California, and in several of the Southern States, a few of which are said 

 to be growing and flourishing. The following is an extract from Mr. Van Deman's 

 letter, dated November 2, 1890: 



"Having recently noted in the public press that you have succeeded in success- 

 fully pollinating the fig, I write to get direct information from you. I have no doubt 

 you have the true Capri Fig, or you would not have performed the operation men- 

 tioned. Last winter, I imported a number of the cuttirgs of the Wild or Capri Fig 

 direct from Turkey, and sent them all over the fig growing districts of this country. 

 If I had had your name on my list, as one of the fig growers, would have sent you 

 some also, but of course that would rot have been necessary, inasmuch as you al- 

 ready had it growing." 



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