CHAPTER VI. 



THE PIG IN AFRICA. 



Outside of Smyrna the largest fig district in the 

 world is east of Algiers, in Kabylia, where twenty- 

 eight edible varieties are grown ; some require capri- 

 fication. They are dried in the sun and constitute 

 a staple food of the country the year around. Those 

 exported are packed in baskets and jars, with sweet 

 bay leaves to protect them from insects. In quality 

 all are inferior to Smyrnas and are mainly used in 

 Europe in making distilled liquor and for adultera- 

 tions of coffee. About 800,000 tons reach Europe 

 annually, being the principal crop of the district. 

 The trees grow very large, and high, and are tilled 

 oftener with the spade than with oxen. In winter 

 young limbs are plastered with cow dung to pro- 

 tect from frost, and sinks are made around each 

 tree to collect the scant rainwater. Those who are 

 able plow twice each year, in January and May. 

 The trees are planted forty feet apart. Poor meth- 

 ods of curing and packing result in unattractive 

 fruit. 



Egypt is an ancient home of figs, but the indus- 

 try has never reached important proportions, about 

 100,000 tons of inferior quality covering the annual 

 export trade. 



