This will be my first year growing figs and I'm getting my feet wet. The one question I continue to have is the names,lineage,Collectors. When I started making wine I was the same way and still am.

As a total New Jack it's hard filter all the information out there and still the puzzle is still not anymore complete for me.  I can just buy things but I love the history

After I found this document last week I knew I had a bigger puzzle?

http://www.crfg.org/chapters/golden_gate/Italian%20numbered%20figs.pdf

So these figs never got names? Whats the story?


Now onto Belleclare Nursery that closed, I see a few pop up on ebay from time to time. I just figure their isn't much interest anymore since new Figs Variety's came out since then. I also have downloaded the original listing I found on this forum and watched the Martha Stewart Video. Very interesting. Who owns most of their old collection? Not the trees per say but cuttings that grew and a duplicate collection was made from the original.

So these are the "known" collectors? I just happened to find this list on the forum. I assume there's more now?

Encanto
Pauls collection 
Bass collection
Gorgis collection
Rafeds collection
Nelsons collection 
Jons collection 
Barrys collection 
Adrianos collection
Hermans collection 
Dennis collection 
Doms collection
Martins collection
Bauds collection
Pons collection
Micheals collection

I actually got interested in growing figs after reading this great article about Bass..

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/08/22/159750471/meet-a-man-on-a-mission-to-save-rare-and-unusual-figs

Besides Bass and Adriano collections where are all the other collectors pictures,lists of figs,sites?I always read about Hermans also.


Now I realize Louisiana State University had a program? that's why some figs are named LSU so no one takes care of these trees anymore? People just get invited there? and take clippings?

Adriatic JH  ----What does the JH stand for? Is this an example of just a collectors name initials?

UC Davis figs? Is this a nursery that just happens/happened to sell nice figs and the figs went on to add the UC initials?

If you search for Adriatic JH you should find multiple threads on the origin of this fig.  It was discovered by Joe Hood (JH) growing in the backyard of house he purchased in Texas many years ago.  He originally thought it was an Adriatic type (hence the name) but no one really knows that for sure.  It is one of my best figs.

University of California at Davis (UCD) near Sacramento hosts the National Clonal Germplasm Repository in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the NCGR is to collect, catalog and, on a limited basis distribute, a massive collection of specimens--I think UCD specializes in fruit trees. They offer a program where folks can order scions to grow and trial -- the program is designed to be for scientific study, so there is no guarantee your order will be approved. However, the UCD, at least a decade ago, one of the largest collections of figs available. Now many of these varieties have been acquired and disseminated among fig folks. There's plenty on this forum about the program: search "UCD".  

Sal
I am sure overtime as you do more research you will answer all your questions.   This site has a wealth of information on every aspect of figs.  They cover every topic! 

Thanks for posting the list of numbered Italian figs!
I also scratch my head wondering why many Italian figs seem to have lost their original names.  
I think one reason is that much research into figs that I have found has been done by UC Davis, LSU, Yale and many years ago Ira J Condit.  Not much research in English done on Italian figs. 

Now in Italy there are fig restoration and naming efforts going on (I.e Giardini di Pomona, Cisternino Puglia and others).  I would like to see some of the ancient figs such as Dall'Osso come back and be available.  

Thank you for this information guys.

I also found some nice information on this site. Mainly just some nice history.

http://www.planetfig.com/articles/fareng2593.html

Pino

At this point I'm trying trying to read just because I'm so interested. Also failing miserably at auctions on ebay LOL.. I was able to buy some nice what I call 'beginner' fig cuttings from ebay . 

It's nice to hear a fig restoration is taking place in Italy.

Keep reading... you will never run out.  Unfortunately there is $$ to made by 'renaming' an already named fig, which adds to the confusion.