200 



FIG CULTURE 



temperature, the process of forming vapor extract- 

 ing heat from new growth and contributing to its 

 own destruction. 



The frosting of a fig tree can be easily ascertained 

 by examining either the wood or the bark. Frost 

 darkens the cambium layer and it slips on the inner 

 tissue. If wood is frozen brownish-red fiber can be 

 seen, or it may be darkened all the way through. 

 The only treatment is to prune back until affected 

 parts are removed and milky sap exudes freely from 

 each cut as made. If frozen to the ground most 

 sprouts that come up in spring should be allowed 

 to grow the first year and the following winter de- 

 sirable ones may be saved. If the entire top is lost 

 two successive winters there is little hope for 

 healthy subsequent growth. 



Many orchardists believe frozen sap is poisonous, 

 and that unless promptly removed it will kill the 

 whole tree. If true the fig is an exception among 

 all perennial plants. Throughout the coastal re- 

 gion we can observe " china berry" trees that were 

 in leaf at branch terminals when the February 

 freeze occurred in 1909. Leaves that were frosted 

 still hang to the limbs, and the extent of injured 

 wood can be traced by its dark color about six 

 inches back from the terminals, while from each bud 

 brown fiber extends deep into the wood; yet, all 

 the trees leafed out, so well as to entirely conceal 

 the loss without pruning, there being no suspicion 



