30 BULLETIN 132, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Sometimes it is thought advisable to plant capri varieties first, for 

 the reason that they usually fail to carry the mamme crop through the 

 winter until they have reached the age of 4 or 5 years. As the capri 

 trees produce the other two crops as early as the Smyrna, the diffi- 

 culty may be avoided by securing from older orchards mamme capri- 

 figs early in April to caprify the spring crop of the capri trees, thus 

 providing a supply of profichi for caprifying the Smyrna crop of the 

 young trees. 



MAKING AND ROOTING CUTTINGS. 



A fig orchard may be started by planting cuttings directly where 

 the future trees are to stand, as is done in Asia Minor, but the almost 

 universal practice in California is to plant the cuttings in nursery rows 

 where they can be supplied with the necessary moisture until rooted. 

 Cuttings taken from terminal branches and about 10 to 12 inches in 

 length are preferable. In taking the cutting it should be cut through 

 a node rather than between nodes, for the reason that between the 

 nodes the pith is quite large and when planted leaves a hole in the 

 bottom of the tree, while at the node the stem is solid. 



In putting out the cuttings in the dry climate of California and 

 other Southwestern States it is important that they be planted deeply, 

 leaving not more than half an inch above the surface. If any large 

 proportion of the cutting projects above the ground, the evaporation 

 from the bark is such that the absorption below, there being no roots, 

 will be insufficient to supply the loss of moisture and many of the 

 cuttings will die. 



The trees should be planted not less than 30 feet apart, and at the 

 time of planting should be cut down to within about 2 feet of the 

 surface. The ground should be plowed deeply and well pulverized, 

 and if any hardpan exists it should be loosened by exploding a half 

 stick of dynamite where each tree is to stand. The trees should be 

 liberally irrigated until they are well established, but irrigation should 

 not be continued later than the beginning of August. Anything that 

 tends to keep up the circulation of the sap, preventing the wood from 

 thoroughly ripening, renders the young trees liable to injury by frost. 



Smyrna fig trees will give a few figs the third year. The fourth 

 year, if they do well, should furnish a crop that will pay all the ex- 

 penses of cultivation. From that time on, the crop and profits will 

 increase for a generation. 



ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE. 



The fig endures about the same degree of cold as the olive. If not 

 long continued, a minimum of 12° to 14° F. above zero is not injur- 

 ious to mature trees, but this appears to be about the limit. Young 

 trees if in a succulent condition would be badly set back if not killed 

 at such temperatures. The cultivated fig (Ficus carica) delights in a 

 dry, warm climate, but thrives also in a moist one, but not in the 



