96 THE FIG: ITS HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CURING. 
the Phceenician traders extended their ocean voyages to the northern 
coast of France—a time when supposedly the common edible figs were 
yet in a semiwild or undeveloped condition. 
THE CORDELIA FIG AND THE ERINOCYCE, 
The only certain instance of male flowers having been found in an 
edible fig in California is that which I am about to mention. 
In July, 18935, I found a box of figs in the market of San Francisco, 
marked as having come from Cordelia, in Solano County, containing 
very large yellow figs, a size larger than our largest Adriatic. Upon 
opening these figs I found every one with a fully developed zone of 
male flowers, fully ripe,and with an abundant, perfectly developed 
pollen. In other respects the figs resembled very much the Italian 
Gentile, which is now also growing in California in various localities. 
These figs belonged to a distinct variety and were propagated as table 
figs, though the dry zone of male flowers greatly detracted from the 
quality of the fig. The fig was juicy and very sweet. It is not 
impossible that this fig is identical with the Croisie fig described by 
Solms-Laubach, and that it was brought here by settlers from Croisic, 
in France. 
It may be stated that both myself and Mr. E. W. Maslin, of Cali- 
fornia, have raised seedlings of Smyrna figs. Some of those raised 
by the latter came to partial maturity at least, and contained male 
flowers in greater or lesser abundance. Such figs, however, must be 
considered as improved caprifigs—improved by being raised from 
seed of Smyrna figs. The Cordelia and Croisic figs are probably 
descendants from the male caprifig, having retained the male flowers, 
while they also have developed sweetness and juiciness to a greater 
degree than their wild parents. It is hardly to be expected that these 
figs will develop perfect seeds without the aid of the Blastophaga, as 
it is probable that they, as other figs, will bring their male and female 
flowers to perfection at widely different times; in other words, that 
when their female flowers will be receptive their male flowers will 
not yet have developed their pollen. 
It must be clearly understood that edible figs possessing male flow- 
ers are inferior to those which do not possess any, and the presence 
of male flowers is without any value from a horticultural point of 
view. The Blastophaga can not live in those figs, because they do 
not possess perfect gall flowers; the pollen can not be utilized for 
pollination or caprification, because there isno practical way of getting 
it out of the fig and onto the flowers of the next crop; and finally, such 
figs are inferior for eating, as the male zone is dry and not eatable. 
The fig known as Erinocyee is of great scientific interest, though 
not horticulturally valuable. Pontedera was the first to deseribe 
and name this rare variety. It is characterized as standing half- 
way between the caprifig and the edible fig. Its first crop possesses 
—1—.  - = 2s 
ae eae Oe Mea iT 
rr on. 
