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CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. to 
PRACTICAL CAPRIFICATION IN CALIFORNIA. 
The requisites for caprification as now practiced in the State of 
California are genuine Smyrna fig trees, two or three varieties of capri- 
fig trees, and colonies of blastophaga grossorum or fig wasps, occu- 
pying the caprifigs. 
There are two or three desirable varieties of genuine Smyrna fig 
trees to plant, all of which can now be had in California. They are 
known in that State either as Bulletin Smyrnas or as Lobfigs, the 
former named on account of the corporation which made the first 
introduction of the cuttings, the second on account of the name used 
in Smyrna. In the catalogue several local names of the several 
varieties are found and which will in time be used. The trees are 
planted from 40 to 50 feet apart. As soon as the figs begin to bear 
they may be caprificated. The trees bear the first year, but not profit- 
ably for several years. It has been found from experiment that a 
fully developed caprifig of the best variety will and can contain on 
the average some 600 Blastophaga wasps. With this as a basis for 
calculation we find that under favorable circumstances it will require 
one caprifig tree for every 50 Smyrna trees. One tree for every 100 
Smyrna trees may suffice in very favorable seasons, but the greater 
number is safer. The caprifig trees should not be set among the 
Smyrna trees for several reasons. The caprifigs require sheltered 
places and shade; the wasps require when hatching figs of proper size 
in which to lay their eggs; and finally it is necessary to evenly distrib- 
ute the Blastophagas when caprifying the trees, as otherwise some 
trees will get too many while others will get too few wasps. For these 
reasons the caprifig trees are set by themselves in sheltered places. 
It is best to have plantations of caprifig trees in places some distance 
from the fig orchard as well as near it. 
The chances of having caprifigs in the necessary stage of develop- 
ment are thus enhanced. It is also advisable to plant two, three, or 
more varieties of caprifig trees together in a grove, in order that figs 
of proper size may never be wanting from one end of the year to the 
other. The caprifig trees are set in the form of hedges about 10 by 
20 feet. The wasps prefer shade and cool places and such places 
must be provided for. On this account the limbs of the caprifig 
trees should be allowed to grow low and shade the ground. The 
trees should be pruned only when necessary to cut away dead limbs. 
In order to introduce the necessary Blastophaga wasps it is only 
necessary to procure caprifigs containing colonies. These caprifigs 
are suspended in the growing caprifig trees at a time when they carry 
figs of proper size to receive the wasps. This is during the months of 
April to October, according to locality and crop. To start a colony 
of Blastophaga wasps in a eaprifig tree requires from one to five 
good caprifigs. The grower must examine his caprifig trees after the 
