CONTINENT OF ASIA. 



ASIA MINOR. 



REPORT BY CONSUL EMMETT, OF SMYRNA. 

 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



There are several climatic influences which can not be foreseen or 

 guarded against and yet have great effect upon the success of the crop, 

 as, for instance, a greater rain-fall than the average tends to darken 

 the fruit when ripe. A high wind blowing for several days from the 

 north while the fruit is maturing has the tendency to make the stems 

 wither and fruit fall prematurely, etc. 



There are as many uncertainties and surmises about the fig crop of 

 Smyrna before gathering as there are in reference to the peach crop in 

 the United States. 



As regards the cuttings which the honorable Secretary suggests 

 m^ obtaining, I beg to say that I am informed that it is too late this 

 season to take the same with any chance of their growing when they 

 arrive in the United States. 



Some provision for defraying the expenses and further directions as 

 to quantity and to whom to be sent would be requisite before making 

 a shipment of cuttings. 



In 1886 a party from California, apparently well posted, came here 

 in the summer, went to the fig district, and inspected the different varie- 

 ties ; he made his selection and marked the trees from which he desired 

 cuttings. When the crop was gathered he obtained 30,000 female and 

 3,000 cuttings from male trees, packed and shipped the same about the 

 end of October. I have been informed that great success rewarded his 

 enterprise. 



A box of figs grown and packed in California reached here this autumn 

 and was inspected and universally praised by many dealers. In some 

 instances it was impossible to persuade the parties that said figs were 

 grown outside of the Aidin district ; in fact some went so far as to desig- 

 nate the orchard. Those who grasped the full importance of this Ameri- 

 can enterprise predicted that Turkey's supremacy in the fig trade was 

 waning. Some console themselves with the opinion that the American 

 fig will not continue to be good ; as the trees (grown from Smyrna cut- 

 tings) grow older the fruit will have thick skins and become tough ; in 

 fact become native American figs. 



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