Practical Fig Culture in Arizona 



41 



slight variation in the Salt River Valley during successive years. 

 The following dates are approximate and arc those recorded for 

 1915. The Blastophaga began to emerge June 1 and were approxi- 

 mately all out by June 15. The mammoni crop was well formed 

 by August 5, having matured enough to provide quarters for 

 a few of the fig wasps. The emergence of the three generations of 

 the wasp during a period of several days, and the overlapping of ihe 

 three crops of Capri figs, make it possible for the wasps to find 

 quarters for each generation. 



Fig. 14. — Dorsal and ventral views of the "June Bug." Natural size, from photograph 

 horticultural files, Arizona Experiment Station. 



SPLITTING AND SOURING OF THE) FRUIT 



Cold weather and rains cause all or a portion of the fruit of 

 some forms to scur upon the tree just previous to picking time. 

 Attention has tten called earlier in this publication to self-sealing 

 forms that are not susceptible to injury by rain, since, on approach- 

 ing edible maturity, a pellucid gum is deposited in the eye, sealing 

 it against the entrance of bacteria and fungi and against invasion by 

 insects. Cracking, splitting, and souring of the fruit may occur in 

 the same specimen under certain conditions. 



During the 1915 season, a large percentage of the Black 

 Smyrna and White Adriatic cracked and soured while ripening. 

 The estimated yield from the former (two trees) was 300 pounds, 



