768 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



the end of June, aud the summer yield, which gives employment to a 

 large population, comes to market in immense quantities in September 

 and October, The trees sometimes give a third crop, which ripens after 

 the leaves have fallen. 



Curing. — When ripe the figs are picked and spread out to dry in the 

 sun, the sugar which they contain in abundance being thus rendered 

 available for their preservation, those of better quality being much 

 pulled and extended by hand during the process. Thus prepared, the 

 fruit is packed closely in barrels, rush baskets, or wooden boxes for 

 commerce. Eecently the practice of preserving fresh undried figs has 

 been adopted, but the amount used in that form is as yet insignificant 

 compared with the quantities that are preserved by drying. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Figs, especially when fresh, are largely used by the local population 

 as an article of food. The trade in this fruit is of long standing and of 

 very considerable importance in this country. During the year 1880-'81 

 Smyrna district exported 6,991J tons, worth at the port of shipment 

 $1,646,998.89. The exportalions were principally to England, Ger- 

 many, the United States, and Prance. In one fortnight no fewer than 

 195,000 barrels, cases, bags, boxes, drums, and baskets of figs and ra- 

 sins were shipped from Smyrna alone. The export trade of figs at the 

 other Turkish ports is unimportant in comparison with Smyrna. Figs 

 are grown largely in the other provinces of Turkey, but the quantity 

 exported is small compared with Smyrna. They produce but little more 

 than is sufficient to meet the local demand, but if railroads existed in 

 the interior the production would be immensely increased. 



It is probably not generally known that a considerable quantity of 

 the inferior kinds of figs find their way to the Austrian " chicory coffee 

 makers" and the French brandy distillers. Much liquor labeled "fine 

 champagne," '' cognac," etc., owes its origin to the refuse of the Smyrna 

 fig market. 



G. H. Heap, 

 Gonsul-GentraJ. 



United States Consulate-General, 



Constantinople, April 10, 1884. 



DARDANELLES. 



BEPOm BY CONSULAR AGENT CALTERT 



Varieties. — Figs arc, not dried here. The best variety for eating when 

 ripe is the Syah Ingir (Black fig). 



Trees. — Very few trees of other kinds are cultivated. The trees pro- 

 ducing these figs are grown in Thracian Chersonese, Dardanelles coast, 

 and elsewhere. They are i)lanted from the sea inland, but not above 

 1,500 feet, and open to all exposures. 



