206 ON THE CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. 



about equal ; and in the Lardaro the proportions were much the 

 same as in the preceding year. 



Although I examined an infinity of ovaries in the fallen 

 caprified fruits, I never could discover with the microscope the 

 least sign of tlieir having been pierced by the insect to introduce 

 its eggs, and never found anything within resembling a grub ; 

 thence it is probable tliat the insect does not pierce them. I say 

 this in order to call attention to the circumstance that the 

 blackening and decay round the insect is not to be attributed to 

 the puncture — which we do not know to take place, besides that 

 the ovary itself seldom or never blackens — but to the body of 

 the insect itself, which produces the efiect either by some un- 

 known action, or by some acrid humour it contains. Thus from 

 the above observations it may be concluded that the fly of the 

 caprifig is rather injurious, and that far from making the fruits 

 remain on the tree, it either causes or facilitates their fall, espe- 

 cially when it has penetrated into the inside and produces decay 

 where it dies. But this I think will happen rather to the deci- 

 duous than to the permanent fruits, because the first, even 

 though they be pedagnuoli, are by tlieir nature disposed to fall, 

 hold but slightly to the branch, have but little firmness in 

 their pulp, the florets but little grown, and the inner cavity 

 large. If with this bad conformation, either natural or super- 

 induced pending the growth, the fly comes to inflict further 

 damage, every one must see that the fruit cannot on that account 

 remain longer on the tree than it would otherwise. 



Amongst a great number of fallen fruits, some, whether with 

 or without the insect, showed a few florets which had grown 

 more than tlie others, and had had time to form their embryo. 

 § 13. Examination of permanent figs. 



The examination of the fallen figs was naturally followed by 

 that of tliose which remain on the tree to ripen, in order to as- 

 certain whether tliey contained the insect, and whether it induced 

 decay. But in this research a source of error might lie in the 

 mistaking for permanent fruits those which might still fall before 

 tliey ripen ; these, however, although they may appear to hold 

 firmly on to the bough, may be known practically by a peculiar 

 look, by being usually badly formed, imperfectly nourished, of a 

 paler green than the rest, and emitting when pierced a small 

 quantity only of a thinner milky juice than the sound ones. On 

 the 1st of August I cut from a caprified Sarnese fig a branch 

 bearing eiglit fruits ; one ready to fall contained the insect, so did 

 tliree others of a doubtful kind, that is to say, not showing clearly 

 whether they would come to maturity or fall prematurely, tliey 

 showed the u.sual blackening, although slight, of the style. The 

 remaining four, intermingled with the others, were strongly 



