At San Francisco, in October, 1873, I found in the shops delicious dried figs, but not in great quantities, nor so thoroughly dried as to bear shipment to a distance.

The tree nourishes in almost all parts of the State.
Usually it bears two and often three crops a year, and it grows into a noble and stately tree.
I am told that when Smyrna figs sell for twenty to thirty cents per pound, California figs bring but from five to ten cents.

The tree comes into full bearing, where its location is favorable, in its third or fourth year; and ought to yield then about sixty pounds of dried figs.

I suspect the cost of labor will control the drying of figs, for they must be picked by hand.
If they fall to the ground they are easily bruised, and the bruised part turns sour.
They are dried in the shade, and on straw, which lets the air get to every part.

Irrigation is not good after the tree bears, as the figs do not dry so readily.