CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. 103 
different flowers in the different crops. The first crop or ‘‘fiori” 
contains only mule flowers. This crop becomes consequently pomo- 
logically ripe without pollination or caprification, and it is question- 
able if it will ever become botanically ripe or produce seeds, even if 
eaprificated. 
The second crop contains only fully developed female flowers which 
require pollination in order to set fruit or become botanically mature, 
the receptacle never becoming pomologically mature as long as the 
flowers are not pollinated. 
To this class belongs a limited number of figs, which are especially 
valuable on account of their ‘‘ brebas” or first crop. Among varieties 
belonging to this crop are the San Pedro (yellow), the Gentile, the 
Bitontoni, the Portuguese, and a few others. 
Adriatic figs, or fourth type.—This type contains figs which do not 
mature brebas, or first crop, without caprification or pollination. 
Except under the latter condition this first crop always drops. When 
pollinated or caprificated again the crop sets and matures. The cer- 
tainty of this fact is due to experiments made lately by Mr. John C. 
Jones, who caprificated at Niles an Adriatic fig tree in April last. 
This tree is the only one out of many which has set a crop of brebas, 
all others having dropped theirs. On cutting open these caprificated 
brebas we find that they contain perfectly developed seeds. The 
second crop of this type of figs does not require caprification in order 
to reach pomological maturity. To this class belong a very large 
number of figs which have until now been cultivated only for their 
second crop. The second crop contains many female flowers. 
Cordelia figs, or fifth type.—To this type belong all figs which, like 
the Cordelia, Croisic, and others, possess edible figs with male flowers. 
Erinocyce figs, or sixth type.—To this type belongs the Erinocyee fig 
previously described. It possesses male flowers and gall flowers in 
the first cropand female flowers and gall flowers in the second crop. 
The first crop is not edible. To what extent the Erinocyce and the 
Cordelia type combine is not known. 
Origin of the types.—The origin of these various types I derive 
from the various crops of the eaprifig, through artificial or horticul- 
tural selection. The first type may have descended from the male 
tree of the caprifig, through elimination of the male flowers. The 
gall flowers in not being used for galls would naturally end avor 
to regain their female nature, while the female flowers, by now and 
then being pollinated, would more or less retain their female or seéd- 
producing nature. This theory was first suggested by me in a letter to 
Professor Solms-Laubach, who, however, thinks that the origin of 
this class may be equally well explained by supposing their descent 
from the female caprifig, in which case the female flowers, through 
nonuse, have become degenerated. But the fact that this class con- 
tains both mule flowers and perfect female flowers speaks, I think, in 
23740—No. 9—O01 58 
