Title: A descriptive catalogue of fruit and forest trees, vines and shrubs, choice palms and roses
Identifier: descriptivecatal1903fanc (find matches)
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Fancher Creek Nurseries; Roeding, George Christian, 1868-1928; George C. Roeding (Firm); Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
Subjects: Nursery stock California Fresno Catalogs; Fruit trees Seedlings Catalogs; Fruit Catalogs; Plants, Ornamental Catalogs; Trees Seedlings Catalogs; Shrubs Catalogs; Flowers Seeds Catalogs
Publisher: Fresno, Calif. : Fancher Creek Nurseries, Incorporated
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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FANCHER CREEK NURSERIES 29
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THE FIG OF COMMERCE. See illustration of Smyrna Fig Tree and Orchard on page 6. No one thing of recent years is fraught with so much that is full of promise and future greatness to California horticultural wealth as the successful introduction of the genuine Smyrna Fig of commerce, together with the Fig Wasp (Blastophaga grossorum) by this establishment. The introduction of the Washington Navel orange was certainly an event of prime importance, which has added millions to the wealth of the State, but it is hardly to be compared to the ex- ploitation, after years of persistent effort and the expenditure of no little money on our part, of the genuine Smyrna Fig of com- merce. The culture of the orange is, after all, more or less confined to the thermal re- gions of the State, where biting frosts are unknown, and the thermometer never goes below 22 degrees, and that only for brief periods, for a prolonged cold spell at even 26 degrees is quite apt to cause serious damage to the crop. With the fig, however, the area adapted to its culture is much wider. It can withstand 18 degrees and not suffer. Hence, its geographical distribution is much wider, and as applied to the Pacific Coast, embraces nearly all portions of this State, the sheltered sections of Arizona and New Mexico, Southwestern Texas, the ex- treme Southern States, Old Mexico, the Ha- waiian Islands, the Philippines and Aus- tralia. As it influences local horticultural development, the Smyrna Fig industry is an epoch-making event, destined to add mil- lions to our rural wealth, and afford a liveli- hood and employment in all of its ramifica- tions to a large portion of our population, while its introduction into other localities beyond our borders will be quite as pro- nounced. The reasons for the faith that is here expressed are obvious The introduc- tion of the Capri Fig, which serves as the home of the Fig wasp (Blastophaga gros- sorum), which fructifies the Smyrna Fig, renders commercial fig culture feasible; the tree has a wide range of soils and climates in which it will flourish; it is of easy culture and exceptionally free from injurious insects and diseases; requires but little priming; is a regular bearer of annual crops which are practically exempt from injury by frost, be- cause the fruit does not set until early sum- mer; the expense of harvesting a crop is purely nominal, as the fruit drops when ripe, thus only gathering is necessary; dry- ing is simplicity itself, requiring less labor than peaches or apricots; in its dried state the fruit is not perishable, like green fruit, hence can be held at the convenience of the grower; and, finally, the demand is much in excess of the domestic supply, thus insuring a market for years to come for home-grown Smyrna Figs at profitable prices. In this connection it is a source of gratification to this establishment to have been the cause of the successful acquisition of Smyrna Fig

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