OF WASHINGTON. 503 



It is now generally conceded that the female fig tree bears only 

 two crops of figs each year. Regarding the male tree (Caprifig 

 tree), even the most recent botanists maintain that there are three 

 crops, although it is usually stated that there is no sharp distinc 

 tion between the figs of the second and third crops. In the three 

 varieties of Asiatic caprifig trees represented in Mr. Roeding's 

 orchard * it was found to be impossible to distinguish more than 

 two crops both as to mode of growth as well as construction of 

 the figs a spring crop (profichi figs), and a fall crop (mammoni 

 figs) ; the so-called third crop (mamme figs), consisting merely 

 of late individuals of the second crop which remain on the trees 

 during the winter solely because they are inhabited by the Bias- 

 top haga. 



THE CROPS OF THE CAPRIFIG TREE. 



The spring crop of the Caprifig, which develops on the previous 

 year's growth, is extremely vigorous both in the size and number 

 of figs; it is characteristic of a male tree, /'. e. , the figs contain, 

 besides gall flowers (in which the Blastophaga undergoes its 

 transformations), a large number of male flowers, which produce 

 an abundance of pollen. Abnormal figs appear to be very rare 

 in this crop. Occasionally one is found in which the male 

 flowers are entirely missing (in Roeding's Capri No. 2) ; and one 

 variety of Capri trees (Capri No. i) produced a small number 

 of figs which most probably contain a large number of female 

 flowers.f 



The fall crop of the Caprifig develops on the new growth ; it 

 is extremely weak and inconspicuous in comparison with the 

 spring crop. The figs are small and appear, with few excep 

 tions, several weeks later than the corresponding crop of the female 

 tree ; they develop gradually so that at no time are there many 

 figs on each tree ; but buds continue to develop to figs as long as 

 warm \veather lasts (to middle of November or even later). Gall 

 flowers are normally present but in much smaller number (mainly 

 on account of the smaller size of the figs), than in the spring crop ; 

 male and female flowers are commonly met with, but their fre 

 quency and combination with gall flowers varies greatly accord- 



*These were imported by Mr. Reeding directly from the Aidin fig dis 

 trict above Smyrna in Asia Minor. Their native names are unknown, 

 and Mr. Reeding has designated them as " Capri No. i," " Capri No. 2," 

 and " Capri No. 3." 



fThe na'ure of these interesting figs was unfortunately misinterpreted 

 by the writer at the time they were found ^in May). They are referred to 

 in his reports to Dr. L. O. Howard as profichi figs affected by " the ostio- 

 lum disease." 



