DISCONTINUING RETENTION OF FIGS INLAND. 51 
gathered. The only way to insure figs against some infestation is 
to destroy the eggs present on them before sacking them for ship- 
ment to Smyrna. An experiment was made to determine the tem- 
perature and length of exposure (boiling in salt water) necessary 
to kill the eggs. 
From figs that had been exposed from one to three days on “serghi,” 
at Tchifte Kaive, August 24, a large number was chosen bearing 
Ephestia eggs adhering to the skins. These were boiled, in small 
lots, in water containing 2.5 per cent of salt, for the following lengths 
of time at different temperatures : 
Lot. Exposure. Temperature. | Lot. Exposure. Temperature. 
a ane 7 Zs | 
°C, | S || | °C, °F, 
1 | 30seconds. 70 | 158 || 5 | 1minute.. 70 158 
si fe yen a 80 176 || (il Paton 80 176 
Bel dora 90 194 | Taleo seem 90 194 | 
Aes dO> tc 100. 212 | ® Wswdow se. 100 212 | 
After taking them from the water they were hung in large-meshed 
bags to dry in the wind and sun. When examined August 25, the 
eggs in lots 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 had entirely collapsed, and were par- 
tially collapsed or at least dented in lots 2 and 5. The eggs in lot 1 
were apparently unharmed by the heat, but two days later were 
discolored perceptibly, and showed no signs of vitality. By Sep- 
tember 3 larvae were working in almost every lot of figs experimented 
upon, but these had undoubtedly hatched and entered the figs previous 
to the boiling, as they were too old to have come from eggs present 
on the outside of the figs when they were boiled. The conclusion 
is that boiling the figs in water containing 24 per cent salt for an 
exposure to exceed 30 seconds and temperature to exceed 80° C. 
(176° F.) will kill all eggs on the outside of the fig, but will not kill 
larvee within the fig, even though the temperature is increased 20° C. 
(36°F): 
DISCONTINUING THE RETENTION OF FIGS INLAND. 
Between the fig “ depot” of the interior and the packing “ khan” 
of Smyrna measures of precaution against worm infestation are 
unnecessary, as the moths have no access to the figs while they 
are in the goat’s-hair bags. Promptness in delivery to the packers 
is the all-important thing to be observed at this period of the fig’s 
handling. Two weeks’ delay brings most disastrous results. During 
this time the worms which have hatched from eggs laid on the 
“serghi” or in the “depots” are doing their worst damage and 
are growing rapidly to a size that renders their presence in the figs 
most offensive. Moreover, the physical condition of the fig is in- 
jured by delay in shipment to Smyrna. 
