PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 81 



million dollars annually paid to the Turks will be paid to the California 

 fruit grower. 



The Smyrna is the best of all figs grown in the world and nowhere 

 equaled in the eastern hemisphere outside the limited area of the 

 Meander Valley, a district about 75 miles in length and 10 to 12 miles 

 wide, and situated about 50 miles southeast from the city of Smyrna. 

 The figs of southern Europe, including Spain, Portugal, the south of 

 France, Italy and Greece, as well as the north of Africa, all fig growing 

 countries, have failed to yield a product which for tenderness of skin 

 and delicacy of flavor compares with that of the Adin district men- 

 tioned above. It is, therefore, a matter for congratulation, that only in 

 the sunny valleys of California, of all the world, can this delicious 

 product be equaled. 



One of the writers recently sent samples of the product of two growers 

 at Reedley and one at Selma to the United States Department of 

 Agriculture at Washington that must have produced a sensation, as a 

 telegram was immediately received to send ten or twelve pounds more 

 for exhibition purposes. The department has taken a deep interest in 

 the establishment of the industry on the Pacific coast, and is evidently 

 impressed with the progress that has been made. In fact, the industry 

 has to a great extent passed the experimental stage. 



A VISIT TO THE PRINCIPAL FIG DISTRICT. 



At the instance of the department, it was the pleasure of one of the 

 writers two weeks ago to make on extended visit to the fig growers of 

 the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, in the counties of Stanislaus, 

 Merced, Madera, Fresno, and Tulare, where the industry has its great- 

 est development ; largely due to the efforts of Mr. Geo. C. Roeding of 

 Fresno. More than a thousand acres have been planted in these counties, 

 more than half in Fresno, most of which have reached the bearing age. 

 There was a twofold purpose in this visit. One was to see the men who 

 are putting up the splendid product, samples of which are here pre- 

 sented for your inspection, and the other was to ascertain the cause, 

 and, if possible, suggest a remedy for the discouragement known to exist 

 among a portion of the growers. It can not be denied that failures have 

 been made and in a few instances bearing trees have been dug up. But 

 it is a satisfaction to be able to say, that with a little time and attention 

 to details, the cause of the failures can be removed. 



CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. 



With soil and climate well adapted to the industry, it is regrettable 

 that any failures should have occurred. Intimate contact with a large 

 number of growers has impressed the fact upon the writers that the 

 great and paramount cause of failure is an inadequate supply of the fig 

 wasp, Blastophaga grossorum. The crop depends absolutely upon the 

 number of this minute, but beneficent insect, that is supplied to the 

 Smyrna trees and upon a sufficient number of good capri trees to sup- 

 port them. Here, then, is the condition of affairs with which we are 

 confronted. Some growers have no capri trees at all, having neglected 

 to plant them when putting out their Smyrna orchards; many more 

 have too small a number and not of the best kinds, while in some 

 instances the trees are scattered about in the Smyrna orchards at con- 



6 — FGC 



