THE GUM DROP FIG 395 



mouth of the fruit when it matures. As the figs dry and shrivel on the tree 

 and fall to the ground, the drop of gum hardens and hermetically seals the 

 mouth, effectually preventing the entrance of filth beetles, pomace flies and 

 other insects. Such figs do not sour, since the germs causing fermentation 

 are unable to effect an entrance to the pulp within. One of the self-sealing 

 varieties was discovered late in October, 1908, by Mr. A. H. Brydges of 

 Loomis, through the circumstance that the fruit had withstood uninjured two 

 soaking rains that had ruined the figs on the adjoining trees, which, being 

 seedlings, were all different varieties, and not self-sealed. The best studied 

 of the self-sealed figs Mr. Swingle has named "Rixford," in honor of Mr. 

 G. P. Rixford, whose early service in the introduction of the Smyrna fig has 

 been mentioned above. The figs are of medium size (about 1^/4 to 2 by i l / 2 to 

 2 inches) with a short stalk. The skin is pale in color, very thin and tender, 

 often translucent and amber colored in the figs that have cured on the ground. 

 The pulp is light amber colored, full of fertile seeds, sweet and of excellent 

 flavor. The drop of hardened gum that closes the mouth is usually from one- 

 sixteenth to one-eighth inch in diameter, sometimes concealed just within the 

 mouth, but usually partly protruding outside. The Rixford tree is of free 

 growth, having a spread of perhaps 50 feet, though grown from seed planted 

 in 1886 and set out in 1887. 



I'crdal, Round. Below medium, round pyriform without stalk or neck; 

 skin smooth, waxy, bluish green; eye closed; pulp dark, blood red. A small 

 fig, but valuable for canning and preserves ; better than the Ischias or Celeste. 

 It does well in the Santa Clara Valley, but is inferior in the interior of the 

 State. 



White Endich. A re-named variety. Medium, golden yellow, pulp white 

 tinged with pink; tree prolific and long ripening season. 



I'crdal Longuc. Medium, oblong, turbinate; stalk and neck short; eye 

 closed; yellow, ribs brownish; flesh red; sweet aromatic. 



Zimitza. Large, pyriform, greenish yellow amber flesh; good grower and 

 bearer. 



There are many undetermined varieties of the fig grown here 

 and there in the State. Some may be finally identified, others 

 may be new. Some of them yield an excellent dried fruit and 

 should be more carefully experimented with. During the last 

 decade there has been a marked decline in interest in the fig 

 because of the failure to secure the Smyrna type in the dried fruit 

 and because so many varieties soured before drying. The out- 

 look seems to rest upon successful caprification, although recently 

 there has been increased success in profitable drying of other 

 varieties. 



