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Every fig dryer should have his own fancy lining for his 

 boxes; the nattier and more catching to the eye the better. 

 The linings are laid in upon what is to be the top side of 

 the box when opened, and some packers lay in two or three 

 dried leaves of the sweet bay which we at the Cape might 

 improve upon with the lovely silver tree foliage dried flat 

 for the purpose. The fruit is then pulled and flattened and 

 fitted in with the greatest care, thick and thin end alter- 

 nately, and carefully turning over any hard stem that 

 might wound the next tier of fruit. When the level of 

 the sides is reached and a little overpassed, say by a full 

 half inch at least, the wood slat that is to be the bottom 

 and an intervening piece of paper are laid on. A dozen or 

 more boxes thus prepared are then put aside under some 

 simple arrangement for an even springy pressure. This is 

 sometimes effectively done by long laths bent like a bow, 

 one end reaching the rafters overhead and the other pres- 

 sing on the boxes. In a short time the soft figs yield and 

 mutually accommodate themselves to the decreasing space. 

 When the bottom slat is all but touching the sides it is 

 smartly nailed on with small neat wire nails. Then follows 

 the usual routine of stencilling or branding in the trade 

 mark, the quality and number of pounds guaranteed in the 

 box. 



Sorts of Figs. 



Black Geneva. Fruit large, oblong, very broad at the 

 top, tapering thin to the stalk. Skin purple-black with 

 rich bloom. Flesh dark red, juicy, very sweet and luscious, 

 a hardy and prolific sort. 



Blue (or black) Ischia. Fruit medium size, turbinate, 

 flattened at the top. Skin deep bluish-black. Flesh deep 

 red, sweet, luscious. Hardy, prolific and early bearing. 

 Eipens earlier than the Black Geneva. 



Brown Ischia. Fruit medium, rounded, rather apt to 

 crack and twist if over-irrigated or in wet seasons. Skin 

 chestnut brown. Flesh reddish-purple, sweet and high 

 flavoured. Hardy, strong-growing and prolific and ripening 

 early. 



