766 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



divisions or apartments are built up at one end with a sort of trian- 

 gular masonry, which, from afar, gives them the appearance of a range 

 of uniform tombs. The triangle is so constructed that the sun, during 

 clear days, never fails'to shine upon the contents, the interior of these 

 divisions or compartments being filled with fine gravel which attracts 

 the heat. 



Immediately after picking, the figs are placed in these divisions, and 

 are exposed to the heat of the burning Andalusian sun of August. 

 Never, it appears, have they dreamed of ascertaining the degree of heat 

 thus obtained, but the experienced cultivator affirms that they do, during 

 the heat of August, attain a temperature of 145 Fahrenheit. 



At night-fall a very simple method of covering is applied to guard the 

 figs from the heavy dews or rain, either of sail-cloth or heavy canvas, so 

 arranged that it covers entirely the figs that are drying within, and 

 being supplied with rings on the two sides, slide up and down as a 

 curtain at a moment's notice, in many places planks or boards are used 

 for covering, giving the appearance of a sort of roof. The tigs during 

 the process of drying, which occupies from ten to fifteen days, are turned 

 over and over, in order that they may dry and color uniformly. When 

 completely dried they are then packed in boxes, or frails, the latter 

 made of the palm leaf dried, nailed or sewed up, and are then ready for 

 shipment. They are not dipped in any solution. 



Planting and propagating. Planted apart about 5 yards, and propa- 

 gated by planting a branch when the tree is beginning to bud. 



The orchards are mostly large. 



Maturity. The tree begins to yield in six years and lives seventy- 

 five to one hundred years. 



Insect pests. There are no insect pests or parasites. 



Cuttings. Cuttings can be secured by arranging with some grower 

 of figs to give or sell the cuttings about the time of sprouting. 



H. C. MARSTON, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Malaga, December 6, 1889. 



TURKEY. 



REPORT ST CONSUL-GENERAL HEAP, OF CONSTANTINOPLE. 

 [Republished from Consular Reports, No. 41|.] 



Production. The fruit of the fig tree may be reckoned among the 

 staple foods of man for ages before cereals were cultivated by any 

 settled agricultural population. In the temperate regions, where it 

 thrives best, it fills the place of the banana of tropical climates, and 

 yields fruit during several months of the year. In Asia Minor, where 



