THE FIG TREE ] 135 



is approaching maturity the moist sugary secretion of 

 the fleshy fruit stops the further development of the galls 

 and kills the larva within them, so that the Blastophaga 

 hardly ever reaches its adult stage within them, and when 

 it does it is invariably killed and then pushed out of the 

 orifice by the sugary secretion of the ripe fig. 



The practice of Caprification is carried out in the 

 following manner. In June, it will be known that the 

 caprifigs are mature because they become somewhat soft 

 to the touch and the Blastophagas are seen emerging 

 from them. They are then picked at once and are strung 

 together in twos or threes by means of a needle and 

 cotton thread, and are carried in baskets and hung to the 

 branches of the fig trees. The operation is best performed 

 early in the morning, so that the insect emerging during 

 the heat of the day, is not handicapped by the dew, 

 and proceeds at once to the young figs around it. If the 

 caprifigs are of good quality, that is if they are well 

 provided with galls, twelve clusters will be found 

 sufficient for a large tree, but if their quality is poor it 

 will be necessary to put more. Moreover, as the young 

 figs are not all mature for pollination at the same time, 

 it is advisable in order to avoid some loss of the later 

 figs, to procure some late ripening caprifigs from caprifig 

 trees growing in cool situations or on exposed hilly 

 ground, and as a rule two or three clusters of these 

 late caprifigs are enough for a large tree as a second 

 or subsidiary caprification. Some growers make use of 

 bulrushes or other material in stringing caprifigs, but 

 ordinary cotton thread is the best for this purpose. 

 In fact ants which are very partial to the Blastophaga 

 and will prey upon it if they are allowed a chance, 

 do not easily climb down a slender cotton thread. For 

 this reason it is important to hang the caprifigs by a 

 single thread, carefully avoiding touch with the branches 

 or foliage, so that the alert ants may not find a bridge 

 to reach the coveted prey. 



