36 Bulletin 77 



two Capri trees for each acre of Smyrna or vSan Pedro, yet the 

 writer recommends twice this number for use in the vSalt River 

 Valley. The number of trees must be varied since the size of the 

 fruit varies greatly, in some instances each specimen producing only 

 500 while the larger forms may produce 2,000 or more wasps. The 

 profichi crop is the one that concerns the orchardist. 



Providing winter protection. — The problem of providing winter 

 protection consists in the growing of one or more varieties of Capri 

 trees in a more or less protected place. The growing of the Capri 

 tree in the bush form, making it possible to cover the plant 

 during severe winter weather and when spring frosts occur, 

 would undoubtedly make it possible to carry a larger number of 

 Capri figs through a winter destructive to the mamme crop. The 

 Capri varieties are apparently less hardy than many of the edible 

 fruit-producing ones, since the fruit is very easily destroyed by 

 freezes and frosts. The problem of carrying the Blastophaga through 

 the winter is a problem so important that an attempt should be 

 made to protect the Capri trees in order that they may carry the 

 fruit through the winter months. 



Even in the most favorable localities, conditions at times may 

 occur that will kill the mamme crop, thereby destroying the fig 

 wasps. Experimental work done in collecting Capri figs late in the 

 season, packing them in damp mud and damp sphagnum in fruit 

 jars and similar vessels and storing them in outbuildings, shows 

 that the fruit will pass the winter in good condition and the wasps 

 will emerge in April from figs gathered late in December.* 



PLANTING AND CARE OF THE YOUNG ORCHARD 



The fig plant has a spreading habit and is a surface feeder. The 

 average distance for planting is 28 by 28 to 30 by 30 feet. On sandy 

 soils where top growth is limited, 25 by 25 feet is good space, yet when 

 they grow large, 35 by 35 feet gives the trees none too much room after 

 they come into full bearing. 



Great care is required in transplanting the fig. At the time the 

 trees are dug from the nursery row the roots must not be exposed 

 to the Sim or dry air, since slight exposure will injure and possibly 

 kill them. While planting, the same precautions must be taken. 

 Puddling the roots is the best method of handling previous to the 

 removal of mutilated and discolored branches at the time of setting. 

 When planting is done, the soil must be moist or a sufficient quantity 

 of water applied to settle the soil around the roots. The moist or 



*Rixford. G. P. Requirements and Possibilities of Fig Culture in Cilifornia. Pres^rviaff 

 Mamme Capri figs. Reprint, Monthly Bulletin California State Commission of H jrticulture. Feb. 

 1915. Vol IV, No. 2, p. 5. 



