CAPRIFICATION OF THE FIG. 105 
in at least one of its crops. The first effort in selection must have 
been to eliminate these male flowers, as both they and the part of the 
receptacle on which they grow are hard, dry, and otherwise not pal- 
atable. Thus in the Croisie fig the male flowers, together with their 
part of the receptacle, is always removed before eating, and this neces- 
sary process must have first stimulated effort to produce a fig without 
the objectionable parts. While this selection and improvement of 
edible figs was being carried on by the ancient cultivators the wild fig 
was not entirely left to itself. It was found necessary in some instances 
to propagate even the wild fig in order to procure the figs for caprifi- 
eation. What would be more natural than to suppose that those figs 
were especially propagated which produced greater abundance of 
pollen and a more perfect continuation of crops? This selection in a 
small way would in time give rise to several types, even among the 
wild figs, similar to those, perhaps, described by Pontedera, Gallesio, 
and others. 
After the first objectionable features of male flowers were eliminated 
other improvements followed as to flavor, taste, sweetness, etc. 
FIG INSECTS. 
FIG WASPS OR BLASTOPHAGAS, 
All known wild fig trees, and there are over 100 distinct species 
described! by botanists, are inhabited by very minute wasps known 
Fia. 16.—Blastophaga grossorum: a, adult female; b, head of same from below; c, head of same 
from side; d, male impregnating female; e, female issuing from gall; f,adult male—enlarged 
(after Westwood). (From Smyrna Fig Culture in the United States, by Dr. L. O. Howard.) 
as ‘‘inquilines” or parasites, and scientifically described as Blasto- 
phage. (See fig. 16.) These Blastophagas not only visit the figs, but 
they live, breed, and develop in them; nay more, if deprived of their 
fig hosts, these Blastophagas could not live, breed, and develop any- 
where else. The organization of these little wasps is such that while 
1 According to Willkomm, there are 500 species of figs described, 
