CONTINENT OF AFRICA. 

 MOROCCO. 



REPORT BY aONSVh MA.THEVS, OF TANGIER. 

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



Varieties. — There are various kinds of figs — white, red, and black — 

 which are dried for commercial purposes. Of the white variety there is 

 the White Burgasot, of excellent flavor both fresh as well as dry. It 

 does not produce the early large flg, but only second season figs. 



The Marsellaise or Athens fig. — Fruit very sweet and small, round in 

 shape ; it ripens in August, and is the variety most preferred for dry- 

 ing. 



TJie Blanquette fig. — ^A middling variety, which resists cold weather 

 better than any other varieties, and can prosper north of the regions of 

 the olive ; is also of second season, and is preferred while ripe before 

 drying. 



Of the red varieties the best for drying are the following : The Date 

 fig>i the most preferred for drying purposes ; it ripens in August. The 

 Jerusalem fig matures in September, very fine and large. The Rose 

 Blanche, very large, and is only used for drying. Sultana or Tunisian, 

 a large, choice variety similar to the Smyrna. 



There are numerous varieties of black figs, bearing a different name 

 in the various countries where they are grown. 



Morocco produces a large variety of most delicious figs. They are 

 called by the Arabs " Kermuse" in general, although each variety has 

 its name. There are figs of various colors, some of which are white, yel- 

 low, black, purple, and others green. The Jews extract " aguadiente," 

 an ardent spirit, from figs. In Spain they prepare a savory wine from 

 which they extract spirits which they flavor and term " anisette." 



Suffren has given a description and figure of three hundred and sixty 

 varieties of figs cultivated in Spain, France, and Italy. Most of the fig 

 trees yield two crops during the year : the first, producing the large fig, 

 matures in J une, and the second in August, September, and October. 

 The fig tree grows on any soil, provided it is free of stagnant water re- 

 tained on the surface over the roots. It prefers a light loam of a cal- 

 careua nature ; should this retain its moisture the trees would grow 

 taller; in dry soils the fruit is smaller. 



