SMYRNA FIG CULTURE. 27 
valuable assistance in locating these trees. At Augusta, Ga., R. C. 
Berckmans is growing many varieties of figs and was able to give the 
writer much valuable information on the subject. From these in- < 
vestigations it is apparent that there exists no climatic obstacle to 
the growing of Smyrna figs in the Southern States. 
Besides ascertaining the climatic fitness for the successful growth 
of Smyrna trees, a further important step looking to successful Smyrna 
fic culture has been taken. Colonies of the fig insect have been 
established at two points in the South. A eallener was established in 
the old capri tree at San Antonio, Tex., in 1917, and in two trees at 
Brunswick, Ga. The insects sent in snp from the Department 
of Agriculture’s orchard at Loomis, Cal., were placed in the San 
Antonio tree by E. B. Pauly, where they established themselves and 
seemed to thrive in spite of a fall m temperature to 25° F.; but later ° 
a drop to 13° F. exterminated the whole colony. The capri trees at 
Brunswick, Ga., belonging to Mrs. L. M. Russell and George H. Cook 
carried their crop through the winter of 1917-18 without injury, and 
the fig insects entered the spring crop of caprifigs, causing a full set- 
ting of fruit. Mrs. Russell sent a few of her figs to San Antonio and 
reestablished the colony on the old tree at that point.t 
A serious obstacle to the fig industry in the South is the prevalence 
of wet weather during the ripening period, causing most varieties to 
sour and also preventing the fruit from drying on the trees, as it 
does everywhere in California. 
Sufficient evidence has been accumulated as to the possibility of 
Smyrna fig culture in the Southern States to justify experimenting 
with this type of fig. Even if the crop can:not be dried without 
artificial heat, it is probable that owing to its greater sugar content 
the Smyrna fig will resist. the tendency to sour and for this reason 
wil prove to be suitable for shipping in a fresh state to the northern 
and other city markets. 
It should be borne in mind, however, ‘thet success. in erowing 
Smyrna figs is absolutely dependent upon the presence of caprifig 
trees colonized with the fig insect. Until it has been demonstrated 
that the insect can be carried successfully through several seasons it 
will not be advisable to undertake commercial plantings of figs of the 
Smyrna type. There are, however, many scattered chance seedlings 
of the Smyrna type already in existence the fruit of which now goes 
to waste. Experiments should be conducted in caprifying their crops 
if female trees or in establishing the fig insect in them if they hap- 
pen to be caprifigs. The summer or main crop of edible figs of the 
_ Smyrna type should be setting in late May or early June, when they 
are ready for caprification; the profichi or main crop of the caprifig tree 
should be setting in March, when the fig insects may best be introduced. 
1 Caprifigs from the Russell tree at Brunswick p.aced in the Richards tree at Savannah (Smyrna type) on 
June 1, 1918, caused a large crop of excellent figs to mature, the first fruits ever secured from this old tree. 
