FIGS IN PALESTINE. 739 



Maturity. The trees remain fruitful from eighty to one hundred years 

 and even longer. 



Insect pests. A kind of bug, known under the name " Basra," is very 

 injurious to the fruit, which it covers with dark yellow and black spots. 

 No one knows how to free the trees and fruit of this pest. 



The only beneficial insect is the one which comes out of the male fruit 

 and impregnates the female figs, and the ants which feed on the bug 

 called "Basra." 



Securing cuttings. Unovassi cuttings are the best and should be gath- 

 ered by some one having a good knowledge of the trees. 



W. O. EMMETT, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



January 15, 1890. 



PALESTINE. 



REPORT BY CONSUL GILLMAN. OF JERUSALEM. 



Varieties. There is no exportation of the figs grown in Palestine, 

 and scarcely any care is given to the cultivation of the trees. There 

 are said to be as many as twelve varieties of the fig in this country, and, 

 with few exceptions, they are all good for eating. .The best known and 

 more easily distinguished varieties are as follows : (1) The large green 

 fig, early in fruiting, known as dafouri. (2) Small green, later fig, 

 called ghoudri (greenish). (3) Large purple fig named gharroubi (carob, 

 from its resemblance to the color of the pod of the carob). (4) Small 

 purple fig, named also gharroubi. (5) Yellow fig, white inside, known 

 as biadi (white). (6) Yellow fig, crimson inside, called karawi (crimson), 

 resembling the Smyrna fig of commerce. (7) Black fig, named swadi 

 (black). 



While, as already mentioned, all these are good for eating in the 

 fresh state, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 are the best for this purpose. Equally, 

 though, all the varieties are used for drying. Nos. 5, 6, and 7 are the 

 most suitable for the purpose. 



Situation. The trees flourish all over Palestine, from the sea-coast, 

 up into the hill country, at an elevation of 3,000 feet or more. They 

 generally have a full exposure to the sun, but seem to do well in all 

 situations. They frequently attain an enormous size, even on the most 

 rocky hill-sides ; and whether the land is hilly, rolling, or level, appears 

 to make no great difference to them. The soil is generally clay, or sand 

 and clay mixed, with clay subsoil. 



Climate. At Jaffa and on the plains the minimum temperature is 32 

 Fahr., the maximum reaching 107 Fahr. ; the average temperature in 

 the day-time being about 70J, and at night, 55J Fahr. In the mount- 



