METHODS OF POLLINATION l8l 



comes out and deposits its eggs in the profichi. By the time this 

 generation is ready to come out the flowers of the Smyrna fig are 

 ready for pollination. Many of the insects of the profichi genera- 

 tion, which are in the fruits left on the caprifigs, lay their eggs 

 in the second crop, the mammoni, and those issuing from these 

 deposit their eggs in the mamme. In this way the insects con- 

 tinue their existence from year to year in great numbers in the 

 caprifig. About 1882 a large number of Smyrna fig trees were 

 started in California. But they bore no fruit. A few years later 

 another attempt was made and the caprifig as well as the Smyrna 

 fig was introduced by cuttings. But as the insect was not present, 

 failure again resulted. For a few years some Smyrna figs were 

 produced by artificial pollination with pollen from the caprifig. 

 Attempts were then made to introduce the fig-fertilizing insect. 

 In 1898 to 1900 this was successful and Smyrna figs were produced 

 through the agency of this insect which were equal in quality to 

 the imported figs.* Their culture, therefore, promises to become 

 a valuable industry in California and some of the Southwestern 

 States if proper attention is given to it. The process of hanging 

 the branches of fruit of the caprifig in the Smyrna fig trees is called 

 caprification. 



298. The fruit of the fig is peculiar. It is the enlarged 

 fleshy, somewhat pear-shaped receptacle, the end of a shoot, which 

 is hollow, and the numerous flowers are borne over the surface of 

 this hollow. The " seeds " are small, hard nutlets, and each one 

 is in reality a small fruit, the seed being united with the wall of 

 the ovary. It is said that the " seed " gives the flavor to the 

 Smyrna fig. 



* L. O. Howard, Smyrna Fig Culture in the United States, Year Book of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture, 79-106, pis. 1-8, and text 

 figs. 1900. 



