THE KADOTA FIG 35 



poses. As the orchard increases in age, an increase in size of fruit occurs, until 

 the fifth and sixth summers find figs of the genuine Kadota in size equal to the 

 largest of figs grown. Figs of 3 inches to 3J/4 inches in diameter occur and 

 extreme sizes weigh 3 to the pound, and in my own orchard four and five 

 figs to the pound are not infrequent in June and early August crops. Later in 

 the season slightly smaller sizes occur until October, when, in favorable 

 seasons, large figs again develop. However, only about 10% of any crop is 

 extreme in size, while perhaps 60% is medium and 30% small in sizes. Each 

 size has a special market and all are in growing demand. 



A genuine Kadota fig that is uncaprified is of a golden yellow color, 

 shiny as though varnished, solid in fruit and very sweet and of pleasing flavor 

 differing from that of any other variety. 



The skin does not prick or burn the lips, and is very pleasing in taste, 

 making it unnecessary to remove the skin for eating out of hand or serving 

 on the table, with cream and sugar, or crushing to serve with ice cream. 



The seeds being infinitely small are not detected while being eaten and 

 that factor adds to the joy of eating this fig by people who have a plate or 

 whose teeth are otherwise troublesome. The fig being solid within is conse- 

 quently a heavy fruit, hence the returns from a tree loaded with fruit is greater 

 than would be suspected. 



Climatic conditions cause a variation in this fig not observable in others. 

 Coastal regions produce no June crop and the size of the fruit in August is 

 greater than the interior valleys produce. The color is likewise different. Less 

 of the golden color is found, but more shades of green occur. Imperial Valley 

 grows a smaller fruit than any other section of which I have knowledge; the 

 color is golden, however. The moisture content is less and the drying fruit 

 is hard and unsatisfactory. The San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys will 

 eventually produce the choicest of this delicacy. 



The caprified Kadota is vastly different from the uncaprified, and is 

 green in color when ripened, the interior being a deep shade of red, the seeds 

 large and heavy, the sugar content increased, and general appearance radically 

 differing from the uncaprified. 



Caprification does not cause an increase in size of fruit: however, in- 

 crease in freight being noticeable, both fresh and dry. The fruit of the June 

 crop is found on the tips of the growth of the preceding season and from four 

 to ten figs will be clustered on the terminal of a limb, and as the sizes increase 

 they press into one another, making a great cluster of golden colored fruit, very 

 beautiful and spectacular. 



The crops in following months are on tips of new growth and scattered 

 along down the branch, a fig invariably occurring at the axel of each leaf 

 which grows as the limbs extend in length. Consequently every new leaf 

 harbors a fig and a continuous crop occurs throughout the ripening season. 



Description of Tree and Habits 



The Kadota tree in leaf and form resembles in many respect three other 

 varieties of figs long grown in California and elsewhere, and this resemblance 

 has occasioned a sad mixture in orchards desired by growers to be true Kadota. 



The tree is an upright grower of wonderous thrift and vigor, and unless 

 intelligently pruned from its very infancy will fail to make the desired shaped 



