Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 07.djvu/655

* FIG. 597 an established enterprise. Caprifleation is the name given to the operation commonly practiced by the natives of fig-growing countries. It con- sists in the tying of branches of the wild fig, or caprifig, in the tops of the cultivated hers. The caprifig, which is found wild in southern Eu rope, northern Africa, and western Asia, now cultivated in California, is the only fig bearing FIG. FIU ANU FIGPECKF.B. A typical Italian cultivated fig ('fetifero ') and the fig-pecking bird, the ■ lieccaflco' (q.v.). staminate flowers. It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that tins variety be planted near cul- tivated sorts from which mature seeds are de- sired. Because of the peculiar structure of the fig fruit, the flowers being borne, as it were, on the inside of the receptacle, the process of pol- lination cannot be accomplished either by the wind or by ordinary insects. A peculiar hy- menopterous insect, called Blastophaga, is an in- habitant of these wild figs in their native eoUn- t rv and also visits the cultivated varieties; it is to them alone that the pollination of the cul- tivated sorts is due. Smyrna fig culture would be an impossibility without this insect. Until this fact was known all attempts at cultivating this fig outside of Smyrna were failures. Now, however, these figs can be quite as successfully grown in California as in the native country. As the Snvyrna fig produces only pistillate flowers. without pollination, the fruits attain only par- tial development, no seeds are formed, and the delicate flavoi. ai< h constitul the chiel "i i he Smj rna ft mi - cannot be 1 1 ured, Be idi - i he capi ifig {Fi( his} and the Smj rna fig i / I, ,<, ., Smymica i there a re oumerou ot hei or less cuinn I. an. which attain pei I w ithout i he aid oi pi Hen oi i he capi ifig are roughlj gi aped under the nam.- c mon edible fig i, and known botanii b I] Fiona cwi ica, a r. hot tensis. The . two crops annually . i he ea rlj figs, or 'breba ." and i he late 01 I ._■-.' Anol I" i peculi roup known as San Pedro fig [ ( r- c dia i . son E which are grown in California and in Florida and other Sum hern States, mat urc i nlj one crop of fruit, the 'lin-l. as' ; i lie second crop always falling before reaching matur ity. This is explained by the i the first fruit ' died gall or mule Bowers, like the comi edible fig, while the fruits of the second crop conta in only pis! illate fiowei -. lib thi i t he 1 rue Smyrna fig, and f here is no pollen to fertilize l hem. I fall. I he fig i> easily propagated eit budding, grafting, cuttings, oi la In general, however, cuttings serve the purpose best. They arc best made from the ripened wood of the previous son's growth. If the cuttings be made in December or January, in California, the young plants will be ready for the orchard a year later. As the fig is not a hardy plant, its cultivation as a standard is limited. On the Atlantic seaboard it is confined to States south of Virginia, and in the West to Califor nia, where the most extensive orchards of America exist. The tree is long lived, conies into bearing early, and consequently requires a free -pace in which to ripen its fruit; it is, therefore, frequently planted as an avenue or bol- der tree. In the orchard it. should I" given forty feet each way; and if grown with other plants these must be re moved before crowding occur-. All the dried figs grown in America are produced in California; outside this region the copious rains have a detrimental elicit upon the fruits, rendering them unfit for the purpose. The dried-fig output of California i- steadily in- creasing. In 1886 the total output was estimated at 100,000 pounds. In the five years ending with 1899 il was 14.!14d,000 pounds, or an avei < nearly 3,000,000 pounds annually. In a fresh state "for table use the fig can be transported only a short distance. Fig-culture in greenhou furnishing fre b i ibli fruits, outside of the areas where the fig thrives in the open, will doubtless long continue. For a discussion of varieties suited for these various purposes, consult : Bailey. (> American Eorticulture (New York, 1900); "The Fig," California Board of Hortii mento, 1890) : "The Fig." United Stati l ,,, [culture, Dh •■ tin 9 i Washington, 1901). i ! n .. I he hi; and il- allies are repre-