FIGS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE. 755 



kilograms of dry flgs, of the average value of 37 francs the 100 kilo- 

 grams, and 30 francs, reckoning losses) about 963 francs. On account 

 of the difficulties in drying nearly one crop in three is lost, which 

 reduces the average profit to C40 francs. 



Simon Damiani, 



Consular Agent. 

 Bastia, Corsica. 



SOUTHERN FRANCE. 



ItEPOJtT BY YIOE-OONSTJL MABTIN, OF MARSEILLES. 

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



The lig tree is common in Southern France, and specimens of the sev- 

 eral varieties known in the country are to be found in almost every 

 ground lot, but it is not the object of special culture. The preparation 

 of flgs requires too much time and care, and the price could not repay 

 hired labor. The figs must be culled one by one, when perfectly ripe ; 

 great care must be taken not to bruise the fruit or sever the peduncle. 

 The tigs are then laid on cane hurdles, exposed to the sun, and turned 

 over every now and then until perfectly dry, that is, for a period of ten 

 or fifteen days. As the least exposure to moisture would turn the figs 

 black and reduce the value by one-half, these hurdles have to be taken 

 in every evening, to be again taken out every morning. The diflSculties 

 of the operation deter most farmers from undertaking it, except those 

 that own small farms where everything must be turned to account, and 

 that cultivate them themselves with no other help than that of their fam- 

 ily. The small quantities thus prepared are gathered at the end of the 

 season by commercial travelers, who pay from 1.50 to 2 francs per kilo- 

 gram for "Marseillaises" flgs (which are the most esteemed variety), 

 and generally mix them with figs imported from Italy, Spain, Algeria, 

 and the Bast. It is in consequence impossible to form any idea of the 

 importance of the production, or of the proceeds. In 1882 the impor- 

 tation of figs from the above-named countries amounted to 9,964,743 

 kilograms, whereas the exportation was not even given separately, for 

 it was included in the oflScial returns with that of other dried fruit not 

 elsewhere specified, amounting in all to 397,269 kilograms. 



The climate of this consular district does not agree with orange and 

 lemon trees, which are not seen in the open field except at a short dis- 

 tance from Nice. 



J. S. Martin, Jk. 



United States Consulate, 



Marseilles, March 11, 188i, 



Vice and Deputy Consul. 



