82 THE SMYRNA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 



The expenditure of time, labor and money in bringing a fig orchard into bearing 

 is purely nominal. All that is necessary, is to thoroughly plow and cross-plow the 

 ground once a year; cultivate well during the growing season; pruning is but sparingly 

 necessary, and hence is a matter of small cost; irrigation where necessary is also of 

 no great expense, because only required once during the summer season, even in 

 periods of scant rainfall. 



The Calimyrna Fig comes into bearing at about four years from the time of 

 planting, the Capris coming in at about the same time. No attention must be given 

 to the little fig wasp (Blastophaga grossorum), after once established, in order to 

 secure fruit. To start them in a new orchard all that is necessary is to secure 

 a few of the winter or Mamme figs, containing insects and suspend them in the 

 Capri trees. This crop of figs can be transported for thousands of miles and even 

 if four weeks or more in transit would arrive in prime condition. From March 10 to 

 April 1 is the best season to forward colonies. If the orchard has been given intensive 

 culture and intelligent care, the yield at four years from planting should be about 

 twenty pounds per tree, dried. This crop, at present prices (November, 1902), 

 possesses a commercial value in the Fresno market of 8 cents per pound. Allowing 

 for the fact that the Adriatics at the same period brought only 3 l / 2 cents per pound, 

 dried, further comment is uncalled for. Of course prices are bound to fluctuate 

 from year to year, and as the acreage increases the tendency will be to lower prices. 

 The Calimyrna being so much superior tc all other sorts as to render them almost 

 unsalable when the supply shall prove sufficient for the demand, it stands to reason 

 that it will always command a higher price; when to this is coupled the fact that it 

 can be produced as cheaply as the Adriatics, it would seem that its commercial 

 supremacy was assured beyond a doubt. 



As the orchard increases in age, the volume of product will also be enhanced in 

 a correpsonding ratio. When from eight to ten years of age, the trees should 

 average 100 pounds, dried, to the tree, and under favorable conditions should be 

 much heavier. With much less favorable conditions as to culture and intelligent care, 

 the Smyrnas yield even more than this, so that this is rather a conservative statement. 

 At fifteen years the yield will be about 200 pounds, dried, to the tree; at twenty 

 years, 300 pounds. 



The cost of harvesting, curing, and delivering the crop in the sweat boxes to the 

 packing houses in Fresno, will not exceed one cent per pound; in the case of the 

 late crop of the writer, the cost was a trifle under this figure. Thus it will be seen 

 that the Calimyrna Fig has everything to commend it to the consideration of intending 

 planters. 



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