THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS^ CONVENTION. 



187 



BREEDING NEW AND SUPERIOR FIGS AND CAPRI FIGS. 



There is nothing- to indicate that the Smyrna type of fig is very highly 

 bred or very widely different from the wild type of figs. On the con- 

 trary, among even the few dozen edible figs secured hy Mr. Maslin, 

 there are several that are equal, if not superior, to the commercial 

 Smyrna variety. 



This being the case there is every reason to expect to secure very 

 superior varieties of drying figs and of capri figs b}^ growing large num- 

 bers of trees from seeds of the best varieties pollinated by all the differ- 

 ent capri figs. It must be remembered that the hereditary character 

 of the capri fig come into play in this breeding work, and that we 

 might as well expect to improve the grade of Durham cattle with a 

 scrub bull as to breed new and superior types of drying figs while using 

 a poor type of capri fig. The hereditary character of capri figs can be 

 seen only in the offspring, so we are forced to try as many different 

 capri figs as possible in the hope of securing one that yields progeny 

 of the highest order of excellence. This is another reason for securing' 

 all obtainable varieties of capri figs, as it by no means follows that the 

 capri figs best adapted for artificial caprification on a commercial scale 

 will be those yielding the best new sorts among their progeny. 



NEW TYPES OF FIGS TO FIT AMERICAN CONDITIONS. 



It is confidently expected that within a few years many of the several 

 thousand seedling figs now growing will have fruited, and that compre- 

 hensive plans will be matured that will permit of the breeding of types 

 of figs and capri figs especially well adapted to American conditions. 

 In such work use will be made of the seventeen species and subspecies 

 of figs of the Carica group known to botanists. Some of these wild figs 

 are hardy in the climate of Washington and others are extremely 

 drouth resistant. In other words, the improvement of the fig has only 

 just begun and fig culture is still in its infancy in this country. 



PRESIDENT JEFFREY. Mr. F. P. Hosp is not here, and his 

 paper will be read by Mr. Leonard Coates, of the northern part of the 

 State. I take pleasure in introducing Mr. Coates. 



THE EUCALYPTUS, FOR USE AND ORNAMENT. 



By F. p. hosp, of Riveeside. 



In the second half of the fifties the first Eucalypti were planted in 

 California as well as in Southern Europe ; the species used was mostlj^ 

 Eucalyptus globulus or blue gum. 



There are some 150 or more known varieties of this Australian tree^ 

 which is bound to become one of the best assets before long in the 

 products of the Pacific coast. 



Not only are our climate and soils the very best adapted for its suc- 

 cessful growi:h, but, as travelers and investigators say, they are superior 

 to that of its original home. 



As may be expected of such a large number of species, some differ 



