Fig Varieties: A Monograph - uri=ucce.ucdavis

February, 1955] Condit: Fig Varieties
429
The Brown Turkey that was described by Miller to be “so well known as to need no
description” is undoubtedly a European variety, introduced into England and given a
local name without reference to origin. The synonyms, Brown Naples, Long Naples,
and Italian, indicate that it came from Italy, but it has not yet been identified with any
variety from that country. For more than two centuries, however, this fig has stood at
the head of the list of English varieties for general cultivation, both outdoors and under
glass. Coleman reported in 1880: “For forcing we have nothing to surpass, if we have
anything to equal it, as it is early, handsome, very prolific, not liable to drop, and of
first-rate quality.” An anonymous writer in 1852 (see “Literature Cited”) described a
tree at Worthing, trained in the form of a wheel, its branches forming twelve spokes,
with the over-all height fourteen feet, and the circumference thirty feet. In 1883, J.
Clarke told of a single tree of Brown Turkey covering a wall space of twenty yards
“literally crowded with magnificent and well-formed fruit.” W. I. (1893) referred to fine
trees growing on the chalk cliffs of England, where the sea spray dashed over them.
More recently, E. A. Bunyard wrote: “This is the variety most commonly grown; more
are planted, I imagine, than of all the other varieties put together, owing to its hardiness
and productivity.”
According to Eisen, the Brown Turkey was brought to California from Boston by W.
B. West in 1853, and from England by John Rock in 1883. It has doubtless been
introduced many other times by various nurseries. Early reports of the California
Agricultural Experiment Station include Brown Turkey among the varieties being tested
at the substations. Apparently, it failed to compete successfully with other varieties,
and until recently no trees were to be found, even in collections. Introductions have
been made from England under P.I. Nos. 81,676, 93,275, and 95,598. At Riverside,
however, trees from these importations, as well as those obtained from the southern
United States, are so badly affected by the mosaic caused by Ficivir caricae Condit and
Horne, that normal fruit has seldom been produced. (See plate 13, showing effect of
mosaic on leaves.) On the other hand, trees growing in the southern and eastern states
are not at all or very little affected by mosaic. They are of a dwarf habit of growth, and
hardy, commonly bearing two crops. The Brown Turkey ranks with Celeste (Malta) as
the most popular dooryard fig from Texas east to Florida and north to Maryland. The
Everbearing fig of Texas, described by Close (1935), is very similar to, if not identical
with, Brown Turkey, although treated as a distinct variety by various nurseries.
Harrison, briefly described by Close (1933), and Delta, or New Delta, described by two
anonymous writers in 1943 and 1944 (see “Literature Cited”), are also very similar to
Brown Turkey.
Descriptions of fruit by Eisen and some other authors are not clear, as they are
probably confused with similar varieties. Confusion also exists in some descriptions, as
indicated by the two synonyms, Large Blue and Small Blue, with reference to size of
fruit. The following description is from specimens grown at Riverside and Fresno, and
as compiled from various English accounts.
Leaves small, mostly 3-lobed; upper surface dull; upper sinuses shallow and narrow;
base subcordate; margins crenate.