CHAPTER III. 



THE FIG IN THE SOUTH. 



Throughout the South the fig is extensively raised 

 as a yard tree. Commercial growing has been tried 

 during the past ten years with varying success, but 

 it is still in an experimental condition. The varie- 

 ties in domestic orchards are usually the Celeste, 

 Magnolia, New French, Lemon and Brown Turkey. 

 There are others, such as the Marseilles, Ischia, 

 Mission and Petaleuse, but their number is inconse- 

 quential. The bulletins of the Louisiana State 

 University describe more than thirty varieties grow- 

 ing in its experimental park. All the figs raised in 

 the South are called Asiatic, to distinguish them 

 from Smyrna and Capri figs, but this classification 

 should not confuse them with the so-called Adriatic 

 fig, a distinct variety well known to California com- 

 merce. The Celeste is probably grown more for 

 household uses than all others. The fruit is small 

 and yellow, being sometimes called a "date fig. " 

 The skin is so thin as not to interfere with eating 

 when cooked, and it makes delicious marmalade. 



6 ' Of all the varieties grown in Louisiana, the Ce- 

 leste is the hardiest, most prolific and most popular. 

 Its one fault is its small size. There are a number 

 of varieties that should be grown for preserving 

 purposes. Among these should be mentioned the 



