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                           Transcriber’s Note

 Obvious spelling and punctuation errors corrected.

 Inconsistencies in spelling and capitalization left as in the original.

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   text_.

 Small capitals in the original have been converted to ALL CAPS in the
   text.

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BULLETIN NO. 5.

                    U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

                         DIVISION OF POMOLOGY.

                              FIG CULTURE.

                 EDIBLE FIGS: THEIR CULTURE AND CURING.

                            By GUSTAV EISEN,

          Curator in Biology, California Academy of Sciences,
                          San Francisco, Cal.


                    FIG CULTURE IN THE GULF STATES.

                           By FRANK S. EARLE,

        Horticulturist, Alabama Experiment Station, Auburn, Ala.

                             [Illustration:
                UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
                             1862      1889
                             AGRICULTURE IS
                     THE FOUNDATION OF MANUFACTURE
                             AND COMMERCE]

                              WASHINGTON:
                      GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
                                 1897.

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                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.


                            U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

                                           DIVISION OF POMOLOGY,

                              _Washington, D. C., January 30, 1897._

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, and to recommend for
publication as a bulletin of this division, articles on “Edible figs:
their culture and curing,” by Dr. Gustav Eisen, of San Francisco, Cal.,
and “Fig culture in the Gulf States,” by Frank S. Earle, of Auburn, Ala.

The climatic conditions of the sections of the United States in which
figs can be successfully grown are so widely different that it has been
deemed advisable to publish these papers as one bulletin, in order that
a comprehensive presentation of the subject may be within reach of those
interested in this industry.

                                           S. B. HEIGES, _Pomologist_.

Hon. J. STERLING MORTON,

        _Secretary of Agriculture_.

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                               CONTENTS.


                                                                Page.
  EDIBLE FIGS: THEIR CULTURE AND CURING. (By Gustav Eisen.)         5
    Nature and structure of the flowers and fruit of the fig        5
    Classification of varieties of edible figs                      6
    Varieties of figs found useful in California                    7
    Caprification                                                  10
    Climate suitable for fig culture                               10
    Figs for drying                                                10
    Figs for table use                                             11
    Figs for preserving, canning, and home consumption             11
    Soil                                                           11
    Propagation                                                    12
      Seedlings                                                    13
      Budding and grafting                                         13
    Planting                                                       14
    Double trees                                                   14
    Standard trees                                                 15
    Pruning                                                        15
    Drying and curing                                              16
    Picking                                                        16
    Sulphuring                                                     17
    Dipping fresh figs                                             17
    Drying on trays                                                18
    Degree of dryness                                              19
    Sweating and equalizing                                        19
    Artificial drying                                              19
    Packing                                                        20
      Dipping                                                      20
      Assorting                                                    20
      Pulling                                                      20
      Packing                                                      21
      Pressing                                                     21
  FIG CULTURE IN THE GULF STATES. (By Frank S. Earle.)             23
    Propagation                                                    23
    Soil and location                                              24
    Cultivation and fertilization                                  25
    Insect enemies and diseases                                    26
      Fig-tree borer                                               26
      Fig-leaf mite                                                27
      Root knot                                                    27
      Fig-leaf rust                                                27
      Fig Cercospora                                               27
      Die back                                                     28
      Root rot                                                     28
    Varieties                                                      28
      List of figs recommended by American Pomological Society     29
    Uses                                                           29
    Marketing fresh figs                                           30
    Canning factories                                              31

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                              FIG CULTURE.




                 EDIBLE FIGS: THEIR CULTURE AND CURING.
                            By GUST