154 [ DISEASES OF THE Flo TREE 



hardly distinguishable within the rotten pulp. Finally, 

 the fig-fly attacks the early or St. John's figs with equal 

 intensity and with the same results, at a time when the 

 fruit-fly is still scarce, and is just beginning to become 

 troublesome, owing to the yet uncongenial temperature. 

 Against the fig-fly, as against the orange or fruit-fly, we 

 can only react by indirect methods, (see page 72). 



The common honey bee, and probably other winged 

 insects, are attracted by the drop of sugary liquid at the 

 orifice of the ripening fig, and by visiting one fruit after 

 another, they inoculate a ferment which sets up ferment- 

 ation, causing the fruit to become sour and quite 

 uneatable, while it is yet on the tree, and even before 

 attaining full maturity. The damage thus caused to the 

 crop of early figs is often considerable, particularly if 

 there are bee-hives in the neighbourhood ; but as other 

 winged insects help to bring about the trouble, it is not 

 possible to say exactly what is the extent of the havoc 

 due to the activity of the bees. The rotten fruit may 

 contain the larvae of the fruit-fly or of the fig-fly, but too 

 often a most careful inspection will fail to detect any 

 larva whatever, and the rotten and sour condition must 

 be ascribed exclusively to the presence of a ferment. 



