194 ON THE CAPKIFICATION OF THE FIG. 



passes into the receptacle attracted by the action of fecundation 

 and the vital power of the embryo, how is it that in the other 

 variety the same cause does not produce the same effect ? And 

 here let us repeat, that the different receptacles of the same tree, 

 of whatever sort the fig may be, do not differ from each other in 

 the least in the organisation of the vessels, the parenchyma, and 

 the fibres. 



Such are the ideas of authors on caprification. Were we 

 certain that Theophrastus and Pliny had intended by the word 

 aura to denote the pollen, all would have joined in one general 

 idea, that of fecundation. But in the history of the difiierent 

 opinions, as given above, one remarkable fact is included, which 

 may not appear at first sight, which is, that with all the subtle 

 fancies conceived by authors in their theories and explanations, 

 not one of them has put forward a single experiment ; but all, 

 pre-occupied with the certainty of the fact, have aspired at 

 nothing but discovering the reason — even those who had good 

 opportunities of actual observation. And Olivier, in denying to 

 caprification any power whatever, comes to that conclusion, not 

 by experience, but by a just and rational operation of the mind. 



But as it appeared to me not only worthy of the labour, but 

 most essential to the consideration of the subject, to ascertain 

 the truth by experiment, I have applied to it all the care in my 

 power. The questions I have chiefly endeavoured to solve are — 



§ 1. Does the caprifig fecundate the flower-heads of the 

 domestic fig, and make them remain on the tree in greater 

 numbers ? 



§ 2. Does the caprifig fecundate the female flowers of autumnal 

 figs, and make them set? 



§ 3. Does the caprifig hasten the maturity of the autumnal 

 figs, or of the fruit of any sort of fig? 



§ 4. Does the caprifig operate by means of the puncture 

 made by the fly ? 



§ 5. Does the caprifig operate in any other way than any of 

 the preceding, and by any process as yet unknown ? 



§ 6. Does the caprifig fecundate tlie flower-heads of the 

 domestic fig, and cause them to remain on the tree in greater 

 numbers ? 



The figs near Naples which always produce fruit are chiefly 

 of two kinds, the Colombro and the so-called Paradise fig. On 

 two middling-sized trees — one of each of these kinds — I sus- 

 pended towards the end of April some cratiri * of the caprifig, 



* These are explained in the first part of the memoir, to be those young 

 figs of the caprifig which first appear in September, and remain through the 

 ■winter till the following spring, when they come into flower. 



