CHAPTER VIII. 



THE PROPAGATION OF NEW VARIETIES. 



As writers describe several hundred varieties of 

 fig trees the creation of new ones is attended with 

 few practical results. Eisen mentions three hun- 

 dred and fifty-five, and gives sufficient detail to 

 distinguish many. It can hardly be doubted that 

 among these one can be found suitable to every 

 particular purpose. There is no such thing as all 

 around perfection in any one variety, any more 

 than perfection is found in other fruit, for each 

 stock is limited to characteristics suitable to a single 

 purpose. "Varieties must be adapted to specific 

 uses — one for shipping, one for canning, one for 

 dessert, one for keeping qualities, and the like. The 

 more good varieties there are of any species, the 

 more widely and successfully that species can be 

 cultivated." It requires several years to obtain 

 results from each tree used for experimental pur- 

 poses, and comparative tests, to be of any value, 

 should continue over long periods of time. In this 

 work more can be accomplished with known varie- 

 ties than by originating new ones. In creating them 

 several generations of careful selection must con- 

 tinue to develop stock that will "come true," as 

 their tendency is to revert, and useless trees must 

 be destroyed in great numbers. Varieties are not 

 listed in this treatise, the references in the preface 



