SOME OTHER TEOPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS. 209 



pollination by insects leads to the query: Are there not 

 varieties that do not require pollen from the wild fig for 

 pollination in central Asia that are as large and good in 

 quality as the White Smyrna ? "While attending the great 

 commerical fair at Nishni Novgorod in 1882, this subject 

 was discussed with my associate, Mr. Charles Gibb. Mr. 

 Gibb had previously spent one season in Asiatic Turkey, 

 and had become interested in the fig question. At the 

 great fair we found tons of dried figs from Smyrna, 

 Turkestan, Persia, and Syria. After careful testing our 

 decision was that white varieties from west Turkestan 

 were superior to those from Smyrna. Upon inquiry we 

 found that the fig-wasp was not known in that region, 

 and they had known no need of its services. If perfect 

 varieties of size and quality can be secured from Turkestan 

 the trees would prove much hardier than those from 

 Smyrna and give less trouble in every way. 



The query also arises whether the seeds of the White 

 Smyrna pollinated by the White Adriatic might not give 

 varieties profitable for drying. This is possible and is 

 worthy of trial. 



207. Fig-growing at the North. Fig-growing at the 

 North is interesting if not profitable. Of course the trees 

 are not hardy enough to stand the winters without protec- 

 tion. A chief interest comes from its wonderful tenacity 

 of life. On its borderland of growth, if it freezes down in 

 winter it starts again from any unfrozen part and often 

 bears fruit the next season. In the prairie States it is 

 often grown by laying down and covering quite deeply in 

 winter. When raised in the spring close observation will 

 show the forming fruit. It will also start fruit in the 

 cellar when taken in for winter protection. As a curiosity 

 it is grown often by taking it up in the fall and burying 

 the roots in a corner of the cellar. When replanted in the 



