THE FIG IN THE SOUTH 



41 



Monica Bianca, Madeline, and Brunswick, while 

 the Mission is very sweet, and answers both the pur- 

 poses of table and preserving fig." (La. Orchard 

 Report.) 



For commercial uses the Magnolia has steadily 

 supplanted other trees, and will probably increase 

 in favor as it becomes better known, and as methods 

 of tillage continue to be improved and simplified. 

 "Figs constitute the main fruit crop of Louisiana. 

 They are perfectly at home in nearly every section, 

 and grow and produce abundant crops without any 

 care or attention. In the event of the extension of 

 the canning industry, fig growing may become of 

 great commercial importance. Being soft, not being 

 able to stand transportation, and not being suitable 

 for commercial drying in this climate, commercial 

 fig growing will depend upon the cannery for devel- 

 opment. ' ' 



The use of fresh figs is confined almost entirely 

 to each locality where the fruit is raised. With the 

 exception of the New French, all Adriatic varieties 

 open the eye upon ripening, and thus afford en- 

 trance to acetic bacteria, fermentation fungoid, vin- 

 egar flies and insects which quickly impair the tex- » 

 ture of cells containing fruit syrup, and souring 

 follows in a few hours. The New French is some- 

 what more resistant to these troubles, but its keep- 

 ing quality is inferior to that of ripe grapes or ripe 

 strawberries. Shipments have been successfully 



