UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 732 ¢ 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. vV November 14, 1918 
SMYRNA FIG CULTURE. 
By G. P. Rixrorp, Physiologist, Crop Physiology and Breeding Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
The Smyrna fig industry .........-.--------- IP lieCaprifig¢plantationsee-ms-ce see esse ee aes 21 
Origin of Smyrna fig culture.....-.-..------- 2 | The seedling fig orchard at Loomis, Cal...... 21 
Introduction of Smyrna figs into the United Harvesting an@icuning -s4.2--52--5- see oe 22 
SHRI sche owe 6 ooo booemaceeene Udea oe eure Bi) ENO Gis HB ho Qocee obcedoss oo aaedies ao succes 24 
Classification of cultivated figs........-.--.-- 4 ohippinetres Nese ease sees eee 25 
Cropsiombmenteyinecsean 002 mee ea-te ear: 6 | Smyrna fig culture in the Southern States. -. 26 
Ability ofthe caprifig to carry the winter crop 9 | Starting a Smyrna fig orchard.............-- 28 
The tieehOwensea ts. G20 nessa eni er cee 10 Making and rooting cuttings............. 30 
Lite OCIA ONG Aaeaceaoasececoces-seoer 11 Adaptation to climate? 2-.-- 2. o-- sass: 30 
Lifeotthe Blastophaga....:.-...+.------ 12 Preserving mamme caprifigs...........-- 31 
Proportion of male and female insects in NOMPeGUITEMeHUS =. 94 48- a nae e see 31 
CAMMES Mee eect eta eee estes anenee ese 14 Cultivation and irrigation. .............- 32 
Oviposition by Blastophaga.......-.---- 15 PUAN 9st a tie ee yes 5 aoe eeae an eee 32 
Caimi pesec d sepa eee eae se eee areata 15 Gratting yess estate cece meen are nae 32 
Seeds accompanied by secretion of sugar- 16 Freedom from diseases and insect pests. - 33 
Gane ATION Were. ics s Sato iorin 2 16 he splittin sof Mess se sere ee eee 34 
Appr iion of caprifigs to Smyrna trees..... 18 IRIS TCOM iN Gis Sees s Bos, eee ee Oran 34 
When Smyrna figs are receptive. ......-- 18a Deseriptions:ofvarieties\ 255. 42 4-- 42 5-o42 5. oe 34 
Several applications of caprifigs advanta- SMYTNAWVALIOUIeS setae aes eee 35 
PE MUSH eens. AOI OMEN Slag Coke. 18 Caprlivarietiesi: fe tise coe cece niece 38 
Caprification not an expensive operation. 19 | Opportunities in the industry............-.. 40 
When to gather profichi caprifigs........ LOM eeBilbliographyaee qa =i Ses tals sia is = Tees 41 
Caprification of common figs.........-.-- 20 
THE SMYRNA FIG INDUSTRY. 
The United States is annually importing from Asia Minor and the 
countries of southern Europe from 19 to 20 million pounds of dried 
figs of a value of nearly a million dollars. About two-thirds of the 
tonnage and nine-tenths of the value consist of figs of the Smyrna 
type. The area in the Southwestern States and California is equally 
as well adapted to the fig industry as is the Meander Valley of Asia 
Minor and is more than extensive enough to produce many times the 
quantity imported into this country. At the present time the annual 
production of Smyrna figs in California, which is almost the total 
yield in this country, is not far from 2,000 tons. The imported figs 
can not be bought for less than 17 or 18 cents a pound wholesale, 
71807°—18—Bull, 732—1 
