i8o 



GROWTH AND WORK OF PLANTS 



The cause of this lay in the fact that the Smyrna fig produces 

 only pistillate flowers. To set fruit they must be pollinated from 

 a pollen-producing variety. In the Mediterranean region where 

 Smyrna figs are grown, the pollen for this purpose comes from a 

 wild fig called the caprifig, which is the staminate form of this 

 species and of course bears the pollen. From very ancient times 

 it has been the custom in Oriental regions to gather branches of 



Fig. 140. 



The fig. A, branch bearing a fig; B, section of fig showing flowers within; 

 C, staminate flower; >, pistillate flower. After Wossidlo. 



the caprifig and hang them in the trees of the edible fig during the 

 season when the latter is in flower. From these caprifigs a small 

 insect issues, called the fig-fertilizing insect (Blastophaga). In 

 coming out of the caprifig it drags out with it quantities of pollen. 

 It then visits the pistillate flowers of the Smyrna fig, in which the 

 branches are hung, and those near by, for the purpose of deposit- 

 ing its eggs. In doing this it crawls over the pistillate flowers 

 and brushes off pollen of the caprifig in them. 



In the home of the Smyrna fig there are said to be three genera- 

 tions of fruit on the caprifig, the spring and early summer crop, 

 known as the profichi, the midsummer crop, the mammoni, and 

 the autumn crop, mamme, the latter remaining on the trees all 

 winter. The insect hibernates in the mamme. In the spring it 



