Adriatic— Grosse Verte; Nebian; Nubian (?); Fico di Fragola; Strawberry Fig ; Verdone (Rome); White Adriatic; Parker’s Smyrna; Delamater’s (California). —Size above medium; shape variable, more or less rounded turbinate: the first crop more round than the second crop. Neck medium, stalk short. Ribs obscure. Eye open, with red iris. Skin very thin, greenish in shade, in sunlight bright greenish-yellow or yellow, according to locality where grown. Pulp bright strawberry red or in some localities violet-dark red with violet streaks in the whitish meat. A good and strong grower with large, shady, round head. Leaves deeply 5-lobed, oblong, bright, glossy green. Two crops. The first crop drops or if it stays is small and of poor quality, and ripens frequently with the second crop. If caprificated the first crop matures and becomes of very good quality. (PI. XIV.) Extensively planted in California. Should never be planted extensively except where it is known to do well. A fig of varying qualities, according to the locality where grown. Prefers rich, alluvial soil, not too moist. Most excellent at Atwater and in the vicinity of Niles, and in many other localities in California. Better in the foot hills than on the interior plains. In wet places the fig bursts and sours badly. In localities where the fig does well it must be considered as one of our very best figs. It is not identical with the fig known as Adriatic in Italy. The three names under which it has been known in California were given by growers who desired to sell young trees or cuttings. It was introduced into California from Italy by very early settlers in the fifties, one of the first trees being planted at Big Oak Flat, in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In most localities this variety will be superseded by better kinds.

The Fig: Its History, Culture, and Curing by Gustav Eisen