seeds imbedded in the juicy pulp of the receptacle composing the fig. 

 The flowers are very small and unisexual, the male flowers occupying 

 the upper end of the cavity, and the female flowers the lower portion. 



The question of fertilization of the female flowers of the fig is a vexed 

 one. la miiujL-uiUaUeB tliu polldii uf LLu ift^OwIlumcm fm-tilhiuij the 

 -fciiiaJH rkiwai-H uf Ihu Ljuiiiu luuepbtmle, and the fruit matures; but with 

 other varieties, notably the Smyrna, this process does not become com- 

 plete, and the fruit drops from the tree when half grown. So inferior 

 has been the fruit of the Smyrna fig when grown in California, that the 

 question is seriously raised as to whether the true Smyrna fig has ever 

 reached us. Of this, however, there is little room for doubt, as cuttings 

 and rooted trees from authentic sources have been received and propa- 

 gated in this State. Consul Emmett, of Smyrna, in his report says 

 that in 1886 a party from California, apparently well posted, went there 

 in the summer, visited the fig district, and inspected the different varie- 

 ties; he made his selection, and marked the trees from which he desired 

 cuttings. When the crop was gathered he obtained thirty thousand 

 female and three thousand male cuttings, which were packed and 

 shipped about the end of October. To still further set at rest the ques- 

 tion of the authenticity of the Smyrna fig in California, during the past 

 year the State Board of Horticulture procured direct from Smyrna a 

 shipment of fifty well-rooted four-year old trees. These arrived in excel- 

 lent condition, and were distributed over the State. Over two thousand 

 applications for trees were made to the Board, and out of these careful 

 selections were made, considering locality and facilities for cultivation 

 and care. Reports received from some of those who received these trees 

 show that they have done well, in some cases a growth of over two feet 

 having been made. The wide distribution of these trees gives an assur- 

 ance of a thorough trial of the Smyrna fig in the various sections of the 

 State, and a guarantee of the spread of the genuine fig of commerce. 



That we have growing in this State the genuine Smyrna fig tree is 

 almost beyond question, but whether it will ever prove profitable is still 

 a question. It is claimed by some that the dropping of the immature 

 fruit is due to lack of age in the trees, and by others to the incapability of 

 self-fertilization in this variety. In Asiatic countries it has been the 

 custom from time immemorial to hang fruits of the wild or caprifig on 

 the limbs and boughs of the domestic fig tree, under the impression that 

 the pollen of the male fig was conveyed to the female by means of a 

 small fly known as the Blastophaga. While this practice is considered 

 as an absolute necessity by the Asiatic growers, who inherited the tradi- 

 tion from their ancestors for a remote period, those who have given it a 

 thorough scientific investigation declare it not alone useless, but detri- 

 mental. This subject was exhaustively dealt with by Professor Gaspar- 

 rini, a translation of whose valuable paper thereon is given elsewhere. 

 However, whatever good the Blastophaga may be capable of accomplish- 

 ing in the way of assisting in the fertilization of the fig, California may 

 now hope to participate in, for, owing to the efforts and enterprise of 

 Mr. James Shinn, of Niles, we are now in possession of this insect. 



The fig growers of this State were and had been anxious to have the 

 insect introduced, so that its merits pro and con might be established. 

 To this end the entomologist of the National Department of Agriculture 

 was asked to procure the insect from Smyrna, as the facilities of Govern- 

 ment officials in such matters are well known. In the June number 



