42 



THE SMYRNA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 



culturists and fruit growers of the state, all of whom made most favorable comments, 

 and the concensus of opinion was that they were the finest figs ever produced in 

 California, and were equal in flavor to the Smyrna Fig. In spite of these experiments, 

 the fruit growers and the public at large were loath to believe in the subject of 

 caprification, and I, as well as others, who had interested themselves in this subject, 

 were regarded as cranks with some ulterior object in view. 



The Calimyrna Fig, the True Fig of Commerce. Very much reduced 

 From an original photograph 



In the year 1891, Dr. Gustav Eisen and E. W. Maslin made similar experiments 

 on some Smyrna Figs growing on the Shinn place at Niles, and succeeded in obtain- 

 ing the same results. 



The future of the orchard, during the many years attempts were made to intro- 

 duce the insect, seemed to rest in the balance. I continued to give it the very best of 

 care, but at times became very much discouraged, due to the many failures in at- 

 tempting to introduce the insect, and the temptation was great to dig the orchard up, 

 or graft it over into some other variety of fig, which, although I knew would be of 

 inferior quality, would at least bring in some returns for the money expended. Ad- 

 vice was freely given to me during all the years experimental work was being car- 

 ried on, by men who were supposed to be expert in the fig business in their own 

 country, as to what should be done to make the orchard bear, but as is usual in such 

 cases, those giving the advice had no conception of the subject, and their instructions 

 were more amusing than edifying. 



