ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS, II. vm. 1-3 



nor is it practised in places which face north nor in 

 those with light soils, as at Phalykos l in the 

 Megarid, nor in certain parts of the district of 

 Corinth. Also conditions as to wind make a differ- 

 ence ; the fruit is shed more with northerly than 

 with southerly winds, and this also happens more 

 if the winds are cold and frequent. 2 Moreover the 

 character of the tree itself makes a difference ; for 

 some kinds, such as the Laconian and other such 

 kinds, shed their early 3 figs but not the later 

 ones. Wherefore caprification is not practised with 

 these. Such are the changes to which the fig 

 is subject in respect of locality kind and climatic 

 conditions. 



4 Now the gall-insects come, as has been said, out 

 of the wild fig, and they are engendered from the 

 seeds. The proof given of this is that, when they 

 come out, there are no seeds left in the fruit ; and 

 most of them in coming out leave a leg or a wing 

 behind. There is another kind of gall-insect which is 

 called hentrines; these insects are sluggish, like drones, 

 they kill those of the other kind who are entering 

 the figs, and they themselves die in the fruit. The 

 black kind of wild fig which grows in rocky places 

 is most commended for caprification, as these figs 

 contain numerous seeds. 5 A fig which has been 

 subject to caprification is known by being red and 

 parti-coloured and stout, while one which has not 

 been so treated is pale and sickly. The treatment 

 is applied to the trees which need it, after rain. 

 The wild figs are most plentiful and most potent 



8 i.e. and so should produce more gall-insects: in G.P. 

 2. 9. 6 it is implied that the insect is produced by putrefac- 

 tion of the seeds of the wild tig. 



153 



