It is good to see that there is an interest in the fig tree that grows on my property. (I am the owner of the original JH Adriatic fig tree. I am not egotistical enough to have named it that, but it somehow became known by that name as it made its way around in the trade! I am Joseph (Joe) Hood, a chiropractor in Austin, Texas.) The tree was a mature in-ground tree on our property when we moved to our property in 2001, and was thought by the original owner to have been 7 or 8 years old at that time. By my reckoning, the tree should now be somewhere around 20 or 21 years old. I would guess, but do not know, that the tree may have been purchased from a local nursery years ago, as there is an identical mature tree on a property a couple of blocks down our street. The leaves are very variable in shape, ranging from entire to five-lobed with two thumbs, as demonstrated by the attached photographs. Over the years, the tree has shown next to no signs of infestation by FMV, although there have been a few leaves that have shown signs on a couple of occasions. I suspect, as has been postulated, that most figs carry the FMV virus. Whether they show signs or not may be a function of the individual tree's resistance to the virus. My JH Adriatic is next to two good-sized Mission trees, both of which invariably show mottling characteristic of FMV. The mottling of Mission leaves was noted by Condit. It is correct that I guessed that my tree was an Adriatic variant. I have never thought or stated that it is identical to the Davis Adriatic. My tree's characters, as compared to the Adriatic characters cited by Condit (other than the leaves and perhaps the eye), appeared to match that variety more closely than any other variety that he described, so I guessed that it might be closely related to the Adriatic. Perhaps the exact relationship of the JH Adriatic to Adriatic will be documented when DNA testing of the tree is done, as Jon has told me may be done at some time in the future. Jon and I recently corresponded, and as he requested, I plan to send him a large shipment of JH Adriatic cuttings when I trim my tree next spring. I have chosen to meet the considerable demand for JH Adriatic cuttings through Jon Verdick, the moderator of Figs4Fun, as I believe that he is best equipped to provide JH rooted plants (or cuttings, if he desires) to those interested in obtaining them. I am not actively trading fig cultivars or cuttings. Please do not request JH Adriatic cuttings from me personally. I have provided JH Adriatic cuttings to many individuals in the past, but the demand has outstripped my ability to respond to the numerous requests, and I do not plan to send cuttings to individuals. Contact Jon, as I can attest that I am the source of his JH Adriatic cuttings. The JH Adriatic is a very fine fig; arguably, when all factors are considered, the best of the 50+ varieties in my collection. Of course, that doesn't prevent me from eating all of the other varieties I can get my hands on, when they are in season! In recent years, my tree has produced 90+ lb. of high quality figs each year. The tree produces only a handful of large brebas. The vast majority of the figs are from the main crop. The fig holds up fairly well in rainy weather. Heavy rains may cause a few of the mature figs to split. If rains continue for a week or two unabated during the period when the figs are ripening, then the figs begin to sour and spoil and the leaves of the JH Adriatic "rust". Fortunately, the fig matures from the last half of July into the first part of August here in Austin, a period in which the weather is hot and dry, ideal for ripening flavorful figs. Hopefully, this information, from the original owner of the fig, will prove helpful to those who would like to add it to their collection.
Best Wishes,
Joe Hood