CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. 87 
trees would produce only its kind, though seedlings might produce 
both kinds, but probably the majority of the offspring would be like 
the parent tree. 
Through cultivation and selection by man numerous types of the 
caprifig tree have been originated, though they are not at p esent 
well understood or described. The Italian botanist Pontedera, and 
after him Gallesio, were the first to mention this fact, and although 
other botanists have neglected to verify and through observations 
enlarge upon Pontedera’s and Gallesio’s reports, we have no good 
reason to doubt that their ideas were in the main correct. Gallesio 
describes! the purely female tree of the caprifig as ‘‘ Fico semi-mula.” 
In general he recognizes among the caprifig the following types: 
Fico selvaggio, or common wild caprifig, with two or three crops a 
year. 
Fico della natura, the original wild caprifig, with only one crop a 
year, this crop developing during the summer and ripening in the 
fall.? 
Fico mostro, all caprifigs which bear no fruit or which drop all their 
figs while they are yet young; also trees in which only the male 
flowers arrive at development. 
Fico mula, with female flowers, which do not develop fertile seed, 
and which, as he expresses himself, become pomologically but not 
botanically ripe. 
Fico semi-mula, with no male and with only female flowers, which, 
when pollinated, become botanically ripe, and consequently also 
pomologically ripe. This fig is undoubtedly the female tree of the 
eaprifig. From the descriptions of the other kind we may .t least 
conclude that there exist numerous races or variations among the 
caprifigs. 
At present we possess in California about a dozen varieties of capri- 
figs, differing from one another very much in the same way as do the 
varieties described above, as well as in other minor points, such as 
variations in leaves, size and color of fruit, time of maturity, 1umber 
of crops, ete. Several of these varieties are necessary in every fig 
orchard where caprification must be practiced. The importance of 
growing several different varieties of caprifigs in one orchard can not 
be overestimated, as it will certainly be found that one variety which 
will be suitable in one place will be a failure inanother; besides, some 
varieties bear only one or two crops of figs, while three crops are nec- 
essary. Home-raised seedlings should therefore be resorted to, as they 
are likely to produce varieties suitable to the locality where they are 
'Gallesio, p. 46. Solms-Laubach doubts the correctness of these descriptions 
and calls them most artificial, p. 33. 
» According to Solms-Laubach, there is absolutely no foundation for this descrip- 
tion, p. 33. 
23740—No. 9—01——7 
