This Fig Safari and Rescue was started because of a discussion initiated on another thread, so i am going to transcribe the relevant portions.

Francisco (lampo) made a suggestion that i should plant a few fertile seeds to obtain some caprifig trees and i replied:

"I inherited a small piece of land (with quite rocky and not very fertile soil) - a couple of miles from here, with some very old neglected fig trees, that i have to investigate further - and that could accommodate without problem some caprifig trees.

Last year i gathered a few cuttings from some of the trees and i am currently rooting them, so i can preserve and investigate those varieties. The trees are very old (more than 50 years), some already very weak and fragile and when i have the time to go there i find that the birds didn't leave me any figs to taste or photograph.
My wife grandmother talked about a big white fig Moscatel Branco, and at least two large Black figs, different varieties from what i have here. If i got the time i have to go there to see if i have any figs on the trees and take some pictures."

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Francisco replied: "May I dare to say ..'Please set up an operation -fig rescue- to save those long forgotten fruit !!
There are a number of excellent strains of Pingo de Mel with some specific particularities and some of them for some reason  bring about the name Moscatel for their sweetness and fine flavors.. In my area there are a couple of them both light and dark ..
And the ... 'at least  two dark figs'  ...as you say,.. just put my 3 lone hairs upright!!

In your shoes I would do my very best to bring those trees  back to life again and to identify/show those fruit, particularly the black figs 

If left on their own for years, with a bit of luck, you may also be surprised to find several natural air-layers, which appear on the lower curved limbs touching the soil and retaining dust/old leaves, debris, and some humidity around that area (a rich and natural compost) and if left for several months without moving much they shall create strong roots and sprout new trees you may uproot to replant."

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And i replied:
"Last year i briefly went there and took several cuttings that have rooted. Also one of the trees had branches that had naturally created a air layer (the lower curved limbs), has you said - i think is the Moscatel variety. I  managed to bring back two of them to replant - not much root but they are doing fine.

The problem: - there where no figs in the trees, so i couldn't confirm the varieties i took. They are all labeled, but with code names, so i am going to return there and if they, hopefully, have some figs, i can finally label them correctly, take some pictures and try to identify the varieties.

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So here we are - i managed to go there again.
The Safari part was done last time i was here. Had to cut my way through thick brush to get to the site and i was able to free much of the trees from the thickest vegetation - unfortunately most of the vines and other quick growth vegetation, already grew back over the trees. If i have the time i have to come back in the fall and do a better job to rescue and rejuvenate these trees.
Al least, this time the trees have many figs, still growing. With some small nets i tried to protect a few figs in each tree, so i can sample them later.

At first glance there where 6 fig trees, some almost engulfed by climbing vines and other vegetation, including old cherry trees and Japanese medlar. 

      

The first 2 trees where, in fact, only one, that had almost been divided by the other plants. According to the information i have, the initial 4 trees are of black figs, with the last one a different variety - a bigger black fig.

At first glance they seem almost identical. Here are the photos i took:
           

The photos of the last black fig tree. I didn't had time to do a very accurate comparison, but it doesn't seem very different from the first ones:

       

The Moscatel Branco fig tree. It has some small fig trees growing near the base (last photo), that i will try to rescue next time - they are rather big and i need more powerful tools to do the job:

     

Looking around i noticed that, what appeared like a branch from the Moscatel was, in fact, another small tree, with very different leaves. I hadn't see this one last time - i was too busy clearing some big broken branches and freeing the Moscatel from the thick vegetation that almost hid her from sight.
On close inspection, it has nothing to do with any of the others varieties. I had to investigate this one further and take some samples. The tree didn't have many figs but they have an unusual red hue, almost like red stripes, that was more clear when i later inspected the photographs. I have no idea what it is - some other black fig? Or something else? 

            

Approaching this tree, it was clear that it had several small trees growing near the tree trunk. With what i had, i rescued some of them and took them home. In a few weeks i shall return to see if i can photograph and sample the mature figs.

     

Jaime,

Congratulations
OMG .. What a report!
You done a fantastic job.. Have to leave now but promise to be back later to talk more on this

Francisco
Portugal

Very good read. Like reading a documentary. Good strong work. Richie from louisiana

Great job, and fun read! Hope the next outing goes just as well.

Wonderful job Jaime. It seems like you have inherited a fig treasure. Congrats and thanks for sharing! I will be waiting for ripe fig pics patiently!

I had an awesome time reading this. First post on the forum but I'd love to find some old figs in a grove down here in Florida. Figs don't seem very popular down here. They seem to get pushed to the side by all the other fruit that can be grown down here.

Thanks, Francisco,
I'm waiting for you comments on the photos, specially the photos of the last, smaller, fig tree. I'm very curious about that one.

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Thanks, figpig_66, ema and ChrisK.

Its a pleasure to be able to share something on my side, after months of reading all the wonderful and informative information everybody posts.

I will try to post photos of the mature figs but, probably, i will have to go there one more time and protect more efficiently some more figs. We usually have problems with the Common Blackbird, but know appeared a more serious threat - flocks of European Starlings, by the thousands. These stop on a fig tree and after a few minutes there's not a single fruit left.

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Thanks, JonathonForester and welcome to the forum.

Figs trees, over here, are usually neglected and are also pushed to the side of the fields. Nevertheless, it's very exciting, discovering new fig trees nearby and figuring out what they are. When i was returning from this site, i saw two big fig trees with big and almost mature figs. One appeared like Pingo de Mel, but the other one (a big black fig), i didn't recognize. I have to investigate further and maybe bring back some cuttings next time.

I agree that this is a great story, Jaime. I have a special interest in varieties from Portugal, so I look forward to the next chapter. Fabulous photographs as well. Thanks so much for documenting this adventure!

Jaime, What a job!!
I was not expecting such a 'commando' operation meant to save those figs
I am sure Nature (after so many wrongdoings from all of us) deserves that you bring some help and  make those trees to be free again !

I am confident that you shall have here some good figs.
If our ancestors planted these decades ago,.. they certainly had good reasons !

I see there 3 shapes of leaves

- entire, lobeless, just like the palmata family and wonder what it could be. Lampeira Preta and other  San Pedro trees do show lobeless leaves bot not this size and shape!

-see also, sort of 3 lobe leaves with the center lobe extending much further than its side lobes.
I am sure there are some fig varieties sporting these leaves but cannot tell what they are ..

-there are also nice proporcional three lobe leaves  with a rather wide center lobe..
a number of southern varieties show these leaves..

You may have there some quite nice dark figs, (redish eye and coloring now their skins)
And the light ones, probably the Moscatel varieties

Given the circumstances these trees look extremely healthy with no signs whatsoever of any disorders namely 'fmv' . In comparison with what happens now in my area you seem to live in a Paradise still surrounded by green !
The next steps now you shall decide but I would clear all strange weeds/bushes and with the first rains next month,  hopefully, some light  harrowing around those trees to aerate those roots after a long time under much compacted soil. With the moons of January a good pruning  to stimulate new growth and ... close to winter end  a bit of fertilizer (organic or other)

May be as a test you do a bit of grafting  on those healthy root stocks in February.. I have some candidates .

Francisco
Portugal

Thanks, Gary.

I will keep you posted on the next developments.
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That seems like a good plan, Francisco, and i will try to follow it to the letter.

Regarding the fig varieties - i hope that in a few weeks some will mature and give us more information.

Thanks for your help.

Hi Jsacadura,
Nice report !
I wouldn't care for the young trees or rooted branches on such unattended trees.
The reason is obvious: those could be seedling - and so caprifigs.
I would take cuttings or make airlayers on the bigger trees first.
If you have space and time, then go for the smaller trees - but remember, those could be seedlings.
By the way, do you know if those bigger trees were grafted ? ... Take cuttings, instead of root material ...
Keep us posted !

Thanks, jdsfrance.

>>I wouldn't care for the young trees or rooted branches on such unattended trees.The reason is obvious: those could be seedling - and so caprifigs.

They where all attached solidly to an underground root of the bigger tree. I had to cut the roots to separate them from the "mother", so no chance that they could be seedlings. 

 
They have yet to develop their own root system and it shows - they are displaying signs of stress from the separation. I may have to cut most of the leaves.

Regarding the grafting possibility - i have thought of that. The leafs are exactly the same and i'm counting on the fact that nobody around here even considers grafting a fig tree and i don't think 50-60 years ago they had other ideas.

But you are right - with cuttings there's no chance i get anything different and i have already done that with the other trees. Only with this smaller one, that i didn't notice the first time i was here, and only because these little trees where begging to be rescued :-)

Come winter time, i will also take cuttings of this one.

In a few weeks, if some of the figs are ripe i will do an update.

 

Jsacadura, great report and thanks for saving these trees. It is quite certian that these trees are very old. One must wonder how many hands held them and mouths these figs have fed over the years. If only they could talk. Being of Portuguese descent myself, I want to thank you for saving these trees from being lost to time. Keep us informed of your finds. Good luck with preserving them.

Thanks, DaveL

They have at least 60 years old according to a member of the family that remembers the trees in his early infancy. And they where planted by her grandfather, so they are probably even older.

Its amazing their resilience. The soil has more rocks than dirt and the site is on top of a small hill. So they haven't much access to water either. And these tough conditions explain their growing habit.
When you go under the tree the erratic growth and the shape of the trunks, tell us of the struggle they had to escape the shadow and embrace of the other plants and search for the light.

You can't escape a sense of wonder, under those canopies.

Whatever the quality of their figs i will do my best to preserve these trees.
I think they earned it.

    

Part two - Freeing the trees

It was a very tough job. Years of neglect and what i believe is some species of Ivy (genus Hedera) has taken a toll on these fig trees.

Some are almost the size of the fig tree in diameter. Some trees are very much wounded by them and others are impossible to free.

         

Some before and after photos. 

In most cases i was unable to remove the other plants and had to simply cut the tree hoping that they will grow new branches this spring.

             

Good work!  It looks like an interesting property with a lot of history.  I think I saw a loquat tree in there as well.  Good luck rescuing these trees.

You are right, Steve.

There were several others fruit trees there, including loquats, cherry trees and even apple trees. They are all dead, except for one or two loquats. I think i may be able to rescue one or two cherry trees, if they are not completely dead. It's a very old local variety used to make a very good "Ginjinha", a wonderful liqueur made with sour cherries - a real nectar of the Gods :-)

 

Jsacadura:  How wonderful that you can do this!  A fig tree rescue is so good! I haven't read all of the thread yet as I am short on time this morning.  However, I am very much interested in what you are doing so thank you for keeping us all posted!

Your photographs are great for your documentation and for us on the forum.  And, what a wonderful inheritance you have received...land and fig trees to boot!  Portugal figs!!!  I'm drooling already:-D

Thanks, Meg.

I went to my piece of land to see how the trees were doing after the the heavy pruning some received this winter.

I was quite happy with their progress. Even those that i had to cut almost to a single stump to be able to free them from the Ivy are doing quite well with lots of new growth. 

I had to remove some young Ivy that was trying to climb all over the trees again - i have to do something more permanent to them, but i don't like to use herbicides and they may be dangerous to the fig trees.

Some before pruning, pruned and new growth photos:

     

The Ivy is proving to be one of the major issues. Most pruned fig trees were already covered by them - i removed what i could:

      

Most of the trees seem healthy and are full of small figs. Almost all the Brebas (not many, it seems) were eaten by the birds so i won't have a chance to taste them.
 

       

One branch of a small tree went through the fence to my neighbour and a fig that was opened by a bird caught my attention.

 
 
This fig seems a Breba and it's pulp is Red! I don't remember any Brebas with red pulp being mentioned by my wife in this piece of land. I have to investigate this tree with more care when i have more time.

If only i had brought a piece of net to protect the other figs on this branch. Probably when i return these are all gone. The birds are relentless over here.

The young tree near the Moscatel Branco keeps puzzling me. It seems like a spontaneous tree because it's much near to the Moscatel than the others. They were all planted several meters from the others. except for this one.

Maybe a bird that likes figs, stopped by the Moscatel to eat some figs and dropped a few seeds.

If it grew from a seed it may not be edible or it may be a caprifig.

The tree has 2 crops of figs. I picked some of the bigger ones that seem Brebas and opened them to see if they were caprifigs.

I don't think they are as i don't see male flowers and it seems it has long-style female flowers. Maybe Francisco can help me...

 



Some more photos of the figs on this tree:

        

In one of the branches the figs seem a bit different from the others:
 

Hi Jaime!

Thank you very much for news and sharing your nice sets of pictures
It seems that the worst part is over. Great job!
Now comes the big question mark.. What figs are these?

You shall have to locate an old hand in the area with long experience with figs and capable to identify each and every fig by its name. I believe it will not be to difficult to find a person
You shall need pictures of the ripe fruit

Or, you may try and get support from the pomologists at the Estação de Fruticultura Vieira Natividade em Alcobaça. I am told they have good people there (eng Rui de Sousa is a top specialist on figs).

That bigger/Carmin pulp breba, if you saw just one, could be some variety producing just a few breba on exceptional seasons ! or... they are so delicious that tha black birds just left a single sample to the owner!! but soon you shall have the main crop to taste!
I am a candidate for a scion or two for trials down south in a dry/warm area and near the Ocean!?

Keep us informed of your next steps... names, pictures, etc..

cheers
Francisco

Thanks for your comments, Francisco.

Finding an elderly person with fig knowledge over here is not going to be easy. Unfortunately, the persons that probably could enlighten me on these old varieties are all gone.

Eng. Rui de Sousa is a good bet, if he is willing to take the time and respond to us, simple fig hobbyists.

Regarding the breba with the carmin pulp. I confess that i just saw it when i was looking at the photos,later at night. I went there with limited time. Cleared some trees, took some pictures and left. At night i realized the potential behind that breba.

I will try to go there again this weekend.

Throughout the following months i will also try to protect some figs of each tree to identify how many different varieties there are.

After that, in the winter, you are welcome to as many scions as you want to test over there.

Cheers,
Jaime

Jaime, this is one of those times I wish I didnt live in CA as I wish to also be a candidate for scion...lol

Wow, what a great job you have done. No small feat! Amazing growth! Wow, freat photos and that one half eaten fig looks goid to me too. I look forward to others comments about identification. Francisco is always so knowledfeable too.

Thanks for sharing your photos & for the great update!

Yes, Meg. I am really happy how some of them are developing after being suffocated under all that wild growth so many years, and having to face so heavy pruning.

Too bad the difficulties regarding cuttings being sent abroad, specially to CA.

Oh well...If some of them are interesting enough maybe they will find a way to the US (see what happened to Ponte Tresa and Galicia Negra) and afterwards you can get some cuttings more easily. 

Each update is like a chapter in an epic, filled with new discoveries and surprises. The color on the half eaten breba and that last distinct branch is especially gorgeous. Let's hope, whatever its name and identity, it can some day find its way across the ocean. : )

Thank you for all the hard work, photo-documentary, and compelling narrative. I look forward to future reports of such exciting rediscovery/rescue story.

Thanks, Dan.

When i go to this small piece of land i always seem to have a new surprise.

After i published the last set of photos, i went there 6 days after to try and protect a few figs with nets and the smallest tree near the Moscatel Branco surprised me again.

The figs, in just 6 days, had grown spectacularly. I couldn't  believe that they were the same figs.

I have protected a Big Breba in the highest branch and some other figs in the lower branches. I hope the birds let me see some mature figs when i have a chance to return.



              

[QUOTE=Jsacadura]Yes, Meg. I am really happy how some of them are developing after being suffocated under all that wild growth so many years, and having to face so heavy pruning.

Too bad the difficulties regarding cuttings being sent abroad, specially to CA.

Oh well...If some of them are interesting enough maybe they will find a way to the US (see what happened to Ponte Tresa and Galicia Negra) and afterwards you can get some cuttings more easily. [/QUOTE]

Oh yes, PT was a battle field! Im happy for your discovery & really enjoy the updates you post. Thanks!