SMYRNA PIG CULTURE. 27 



valuable assistance in locating these trees. At Augusta, Ga., R. C. 

 Berckmans is growing many varieties of figs and was able to give the 

 writer much valuable information on the subject. From these in-, 

 vestigations it is apparent that there exists no climatic obstacle to 

 the growing of Smyrna figs in the Southern States. 



Besides ascertaining the climatic fitness for the successful growth 

 of Smyrna trees, a further important step looking to successful Smyrna 

 fig culture has been taken. Colonies of the fig insect have been 

 established at two points in the South. A colony was established in 

 the old capri tree at San Antonio, Tex., in 1917, and in two trees at. 

 Brunswick, Ga. The insects sent in caprifigs from the Department 

 of Agriculture's orchard at Loomis, Cal., were placed in the San 

 Antonio tree by E. B. Pauly, where they established themselves and 

 seemed to thrive in spite of a fall in temperature to 25° F.; but later 

 a drop to 13° F. exterminated the whole colony. The capri trees at 

 Brunswick, Ga., belonging to Mrs. L. M. Russell and George H. Cook 

 carried their crop through the winter of 1917-18 without injury, and 

 the fig insects entered the spring crop of caprifigs, causing a full set- 

 ting of fruit. Mrs. Russell sent a few of her figs to San Antonio and 

 reestablished the colony on the old tree at that point. 1 



A serious obstacle to the fig industry in the South is the prevalence 

 of wet weather during the ripening period, causing most varieties to 

 sour and also preventing the fruit from drying on the trees, as it 

 does everywhere in California. 



Sufficient evidence has been accumulated as to the possibility of 

 Smyrna fig culture in the Southern States to justify experimenting 

 with this type of fig. Even if the crop can not be dried without 

 artificial heat, it is probable that owing to its greater sugar content 

 the Smyrna fig will resist the tendency to sour and for this reason 

 will prove to be suitable for shipping in a fresh state to the northern 

 and other city markets. 



It should be borne in mind, however, that success in growing 

 Smyrna figs is absolutely dependent upon the presence of caprifig 

 trees colonized with the fig insect. Until it has been demonstrated 

 that the insect can be carried successfully through several seasons it 

 will not be advisable to undertake commercial plantings of figs of the 

 Smyrna type. There are, however, many scattered chance seedlings 

 of the Smyrna type already in existence the fruit of which now goes 

 to waste. Experiments should be conducted in caprifying their crops 

 if female trees or in establishing the fig insect in them if they hap- 

 pen to be caprifigs. The summer or main crop of edible figs of the 

 Smyrna type should be setting in late May or early June, when they 

 are ready for caprification ; the profichi or main crop of the caprifig tree 

 should be setting in March, when the fig insects may best be introduced. 



1 Caprifigs from the Russell tree at Brunswick placed in the Richards tree at Savannah (Smyrna type) on 

 June 1, 1918, caused a large crop of excellent figs to mature, the first fruits ever secured from this old tree. 



