94 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



the beginning of growth, the fig develops, the mature insect 

 emerges and, after mating, leaves the fig and seeks to perform 

 her sole function in life, the perpetuation of her species. By 

 this time the profichi or first crop of the caprifigs have de- 

 veloped to sufficient size to be ready for the wasp and in this 

 crop the new wasps develop which carpify or pollinate the 

 Smyrna figs. In the profichi the life cycle of the wasp is the 

 same as in the mamme crop, but much more rapid. 



By the 10th of June, at Fresno, the Smyrna figs are large 

 enough to receive the wasp. In order to control the pollina- 

 tion of the orchards satisfactorily, most growers plant the cap- 

 rifigs by themselves — about one tree for each twenty Smyrnas. 

 The figs are then picked and distributed as described. In the 

 dry warm climate of the San Joaquin valley, the figs dry rap- 

 idly and the supply in each basket has to be renewed every 

 three days. Some of the fig growers plant the capri trees 

 throughout the orchard and depend on the Blastophaga finding 

 its way to the Smyrna figs. The best results, however, are 

 secured by the hand distribution of the figs. There are several 

 forms of the caprifigs which develop at different periods so that 

 by judicious planting the supply of the BlastopJiaga is extended 

 through the long season of development of the Smyrna figs. 

 The luscious, nutty flavor of the Smyrna fig is attributed to 

 the development of the seeds through pollination. The seeds 

 of the white and black figs are inert unless pollinated in a sim- 

 ilar way. These latter figs develop without pollination, but 

 some growers contend that the flavor is improved by pollina- 

 tion. 



The number of wasps developed in a single caprifig approx- 

 imates 1 500 to 2000. As the female wasp leaves the fig, she 

 passes through the center of the inflorescence, dusting her body 

 and wings with pollen grains to the number of about 40(H). 

 By looking at the tiny speck which marks the opening into the 

 fig. when the sun is brightest, one may see the flashing wings 



