84 THE FIG MOTH. 
chiefly grown; but the original infestation is due to carelessness in 
permitting the unmarketable figs of the June crop to remain in the 
field and serve as a breeding place for the pest. If this source of 
infestation could be removed by the complete destruction of the June 
crop, it seems probable, from present knowledge of the insect’s habits, 
that in the course of time injury by this moth could be reduced to a 
minimum, since other opportunities for infestation are slight and 
not worthy of consideration. The framing of a regulation for the 
destruction of the June fig crop is advisable, and its enforcement 
should be attempted. In case of failure in the enforcement of such a 
regulation, the next step would be to protect the figs at night, while 
they are drying on the frames called “ serghi,” with a covering of 
cloth of a mesh sufficiently fine or of proper texture to prevent ovi- 
position. This should be followed by the exclusion of the moths from 
the fig depots, where figs are heaped in piles, as shown in Plate IT, 
by closely screening the doors, windows, and other openings, so as to 
make them moth-proof. After the figs are placed in goat’s-hair bags 
infestation from this point onward practically ceases, so far as egg 
laying is concerned. 
The pernicious practice of some growers and middlemen, of holding 
figs in the interior, could be stopped by stringent action by those 
most interested, and thus another cause of infestation would be 
eliminated. 
HEAT AS A REMEDY. 
The impracticability of other direct methods of treatment led to 
experiment with the simplest means of destruction of insects in stored 
products, viz, the application of heat, by steam, hot water, and hot 
air. Preliminary experiments were made along this line and should 
be continued by the packers to ascertain the length of time in differ- 
ent temperatures, pressures, and exposures to produce the best effect. 
Figs scalded in early September had not shown indication of 
souring to late in December, while if exposed too long at the boiling. 
point figs, it is claimed, acidify. It would seem that boiling is one 
of the best direct remedies that could be used, since a large propor- 
tion of the packers boil the figs intended for their own consumption, 
thus destroying between 80 and 100 per cent of the ‘“ worms.” without 
additional expense in manipulation. By the use of dry heat the loss 
of time incident to the employment of the wet method, for drying 
after treatment, is eliminated, and there is less tendency to souring. 
Furthermore, the color, texture, and appearance are less aftected when 
dry heat is employed. Already an experimental plant for the appli- 
‘ation of dry heat, called “ sterilization,” has been installed in a large 
“khan” of Smyrna, and admirable success has been obtained in the 
destruction of the fig “ worms.” The dry process, however, possesses 
