THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. V 



Smyrna fifj, and produces from 5,000 to 15,000 caprififj^s to a tree, some- 

 times produeinc: more fiizs tlian leaves. It is well to romem])or that the 

 entire crop of Smyrna fii^s depends on the Profichi. And lastly, the 

 INTanmione, whose function is to preserve the link of generation, produces 

 from 100 to 200 capriHgs to a tree. 



The Blastophaga do not develop in the Smyrna fig, but are employed 

 simply as factors for carrying the pollen into the Smyrna fig. The male 

 hatclies first; he crawls ai)()ut tlie interior of the caprifig, seeking a gall 

 which contains a female wasp, opens a hole with his powerful mandil)les 





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Fig. 10. — Ten year old Smyrna fig tree after pruning. (Original.) 



in the cortex of the ovary and mating occurs while she is still inside the 

 gall. The female at once begins to enlarge the hole made by the male 

 and crawls out of the gall. 



When the Profichi crop matures the pollen appears in abundance. 

 The female wasps emerge from their birthplace — the caprifig — dusted 

 with the pollen which collects on them Avhile crawling through the 

 cluster of stamens; immediately they fly away, seeking a new home in 

 which to lay their eggs for the next generation. 



As already stated, the fig tree differs in many respects from all other 

 deciduous trees. The fig blooms inside when it is the size of a marble 

 or a little larger, at which time one can get a whiff of perfume-like 

 fragrance from the tree when passing by. The insects, enticed by this 

 odor, at once fly toward the fig and alight on the Smyrna fig, seeking for 

 the orifice or eye, which is closed by overlapping bracts. Sometimes the 

 overlapping bracts are so tightly closed that the insects are obliged to 

 cut away with their powerful mandibles to effect an entrance into the 

 interior, and then they crawl through the orifice of the Smyrna fig, 

 seeking for a gall flower in which to lay their eggs. In an endeavor to 



