CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. 85 
its nature is the same. Every botanist understands fully the impor- 
tance and nature of pollination, and we could multiply instances of 
its practical necessity in horticulture. 
POLLENIFEROUS AND INSECTIFEROUS CAPRIFIGS OR POLLEN-BEARING 
AND INSECT-BEARING FIGS. 
We have already stated that caprifigs require the presence of the 
Blastophaga wasps in order to produce seeds, but in order to pro- 
duce ripe pollen-bearing figs it seems that the wasps are not neces- 
sary. A caprifig tree which is only partially caprificated possesses two 
distinet kinds of figs, which differ both in size and form. Mr. E. A. 
Schwarz, of the Division of Entomology of the Department of Agricul- 
ture, at Washington, who studied this question at Fresno during the 
summer of 1900, has named these respective figs, according to their 
nature, polleniferous and insectiferous—names which, as being emi- 
nently suitable, will probably be generally adopted. Before eaprifi- 
cation has taken place—that is, before the new crop of wasps has 
entered the small caprifigs—these two kinds of figs are of the same 
size and form, generally the size of a large pea. But after the wasps 
have entered certain of the figs a difference begins to appear between 
those figs which have received the wasps and those which have not 
been entered. This difference extends not only to the figs, but to the 
branches bearing them. Thus all branches which bear caprificated 
figs start to grow more vigorously than those which do not possess 
caprificated figs. The latter remain puny, and even their leaves are 
smaller than those of the caprificated branches. (Pl. X.} A single 
caprificated or insectiferous fig will give character to the whole branch 
on which it grows. The polleniferous figs remain smaller and more 
oblong, and soon assume a yellow color. They become soft and ap- 
pear partly mature, and soon fall off at various stages of growth, not 
remaining on the tree as long as the insectiferous figs. When eut 
open, it is found that the central floriferous cavity is comparatively 
small, but contains a large number of pollen-bearing flowers, which 
may or may not attain maturity. The meat is generally white or 
yellowish, and no violet-colored zone surrounds the flowers. The meat 
itself is soft and spongy, slightly moist, but rarely juicy. The gall 
flowers are shrunken and diminutive. 
The twigs bearing insectiferous figs are longer, thicker, and in 
every way stronger. (Pls. X, XI, XII.) Each twig may contain 
both insectiferous and polleniferous flowers, a single one of the latter 
being sufficient to impart an unusual vigor to the twig. This vigor 
extends even to the leaves. The insectiferous fig is thicker, harder, 
and of a deep green. It is also more round and turbinate and sticks 
strongly to the twig. It has to be cut away and does not fall at the 
touch as the poHeniferous figs do. The exterior is coarser and the 
