White of Argenteuil Additional Information

From the source: Eisen, Gustav. The Fig: Its History, Culture and Curing. Bulletin No. 9, Division of Pomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1902. page 57. Oiling the Figs. In Southern France - in Argenteuil and in Frette - a process is performed called "appeter les figues" or hastening the figs. In Argenteuil and in Frette it is employed on all the figs which are desired to ripen early, the proper time for this process being of the utmost importance. If done too early the figs will not ripen at all, but will dry and spoil. The proper time is when the figs begin to color and the skin begins to feel soft, or about 17 days before it would regularly mature if left alone. Toward evening, if possible, a single drop of good olive oil is place on the eye of the fig, care being taken not to spread the oil. The oil is placed on the eye by means of a wheat straw and in such a way as to touch only the center of the eye. The next day the fig shows a change and in nine or ten days it may be cut, perfectly ripe, the operation having hastened the ripening of the fig certainly from six to eight days. Such treated figs are also better, sweeter, and with smaller seeds than those which have not been oiled. (065)

White of Argenteuil
Additional Information
From the source: Eisen, Gustav. The Fig: Its History, Culture and Curing. Bulletin No. 9, Division of Pomology, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1902. page 57. Oiling the Figs. In Southern France - in Argenteuil and in Frette - a process is performed called "appeter les figues" or hastening the figs. In Argenteuil and in Frette it is employed on all the figs which are desired to ripen early, the proper time for this process being of the utmost importance. If done too early the figs will not ripen at all, but will dry and spoil. The proper time is when the figs begin to color and the skin begins to feel soft, or about 17 days before it would regularly mature if left alone. Toward evening, if possible, a single drop of good olive oil is place on the eye of the fig, care being taken not to spread the oil. The oil is placed on the eye by means of a wheat straw and in such a way as to touch only the center of the eye. The next day the fig shows a change and in nine or ten days it may be cut, perfectly ripe, the operation having hastened the ripening of the fig certainly from six to eight days. Such treated figs are also better, sweeter, and with smaller seeds than those which have not been oiled. (065)