208 



TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



lost sight of the importance of fig culture, and in his recent travels has 

 been collecting Caprifigs from all the countries, which he visited, bor- 

 dering on the Mediterranean. Many of these trees, which are now 

 growing in the greenhouses in Washington, will be forwarded next year 

 to California for trial, and if they thrive as well as the other varieties 

 of Caprifigs which have been introduced, new and interesting develop- 

 ments in connection with this subject are in store for us. 



The year 1900 marked a new era in the fig industry of California. 

 In that season the first Smyrna figs were produced, being six tons of 

 dried figs. In 1901, twenty-five tons were harvested, in 1902 thirty- 

 eight tons, and this year the crop increased to sixty-five tons. Such 

 success, so closely following the establishment of the wasp, should have 

 convinced the most skeptical that the business of growing the ''true 

 commercial fig" in California was firmly established. 



It is not necessary for me to emphasize the fact that anything new 

 and outside of that which people are accustomed to, is beset with diffi- 

 culties, and this has been amply illustrated in the fig business. In the 

 first place, it was predicted by the "know alls" that the bugs would die 

 during the first cold snap that was experienced. When this prediction 

 was not verified, it was claimed that the Smyrna figs would not bear 

 like the Adriatics, and some of my solicitous friends even went so far 

 as to credit me with scientific knowledge (one thing I am sorry to say 

 I do not possess), saying that it would be useless for any one else to 

 engage in this business on account of the many complications in con- 

 nection with it. The results thus far obtained in growing the Smyrna 

 fig in California ought to set at rest, once and for all, the pessimistic 

 reports which have been circulated. 



During the past season a careful and accurate account was kept of 

 the labor of distributing the Profichi, or June crop of Caprifigs. Over 

 200,000 of these figs were distributed in our orchard, at an expense of 

 $1.15 per acre. More figs were really distributed than necessary, but 

 having a good supply on hand, it was concluded best to distribute them. 

 This, then, is the only additional expense in connection with the growing 

 of the "true commercial fig," and it is such a small matter that it is not 

 worthy of consideration. 



The drying and handling of the Smyrna fig, or " Calimyrna," as we 

 have designated the "true fig of commerce," to distinguish it from the 

 other Smyrna varieties, cost considerably less than the drying of the 

 White Adriatics. 



The opening price for dried Adriatics this season was S-J cents per 

 pound, an inflated price by the way, brought about by competition 

 among the local packers, and not warranted by the market price of the 

 packed goods. This price has steadily declined, until to-day figs of 

 this variety can be bought at 1^ cents a pound, with practically no 



