SMYRNA PIG CULTURE. 3 



historical times. The extreme ease with which it can be propagated 

 from cuttings, its resistance to heat and drought, its early bearing, 

 its value as human food, and the ease of its culture hacl in the early 

 ages much to do with its wide dissemination. 



INTRODUCTION OF SMYRNA FIGS INTO THE UNITED STATES. 



Regarding the first introduction of the Smyrna fig into the United 

 States, it may be mentioned that a detailed account by the writer of 

 this bulletin was reprinted by Dr. Gustav Eisen (11, pp. 67-69) in 

 1901 . For present purposes a synopsis will be sufficient. 



Believing that the soil and climate of California were perfectly 

 adapted to the growth of Smyrna figs, the writer, who was at that time 

 business manager of the Evening Bulletin of San Francisco, Cal., in- 

 duced the proprietors of that journal to make an appropriation of funds 

 to undertake the introduction from Asia Minor of the genuine Smyrna 

 fig of commerce. In January, 1880, the assistance of E. J. Smithers, 

 then United States consul at Smyrna, was enlisted in aid of the enter- 

 prise. A remittance was made to cover the expense of forwarding 

 a small shipment of 500 cuttings, including a few caprifig cuttings. 

 This shipment reached San Francisco on June 8, 1880, but owing to 

 defective packing, a considerable portion of the wood had rotted and 

 the season was so far advanced that the cuttings made but a feeble 

 growth, although the greatest care was taken with them. However, 

 200 of them were saved and showed promise of becoming thrifty trees. 



About this time Mr. Smithers arrived in San Francisco en route to 

 Chinkiang, China, to which consulship he had just been assigned. 

 He stated that at the time the shipment was made he and the drago- 

 man of the consulate at Smyrna had caused to be planted 4,000 cut- 

 tings, which had meantime become rooted trees and could be pur- 

 chased at from 8 to 10 cents each, the usual price of trees in Asia 

 Minor. Rather than disappoint the county subscribers of the paper 

 who were expecting the promised trees that season, it was then deter- 

 mined to import the whole lot. Funds were therefore forwarded to 

 an American merchant in Smyrna with instructions to purchase the 

 trees referred to and ship them at once. About the first of April, 

 1881, instead of the trees, a letter dated February 16 came to hand, 

 from which the following paragraph is taken : 



I have had Mr. at my office, who says that the 4,000 cuttings he had planted 



and to which your order refers (on E. J. Smithers' suggestion) have by this time grown 

 up into strong young trees from 4 to 6 feet high, and he is offered $1 per tree at the 

 nursery at Aidin. He says he can not afford now to part with them at anything under 

 $1.25 each, from this port (first cost). 



The prices mentioned in the letter discouraged further negotiations 

 for this lot. However, correspondence was kept up with the agent 

 during the summer, and in September, 1881, orders were sent to make 



