Fig! 



175 



Fig. 377 



a, Twig with inflorescence of Ficus pumila; the urn-shaped 

 inflorescence (or synconium) cut through longitudinally. 6, 

 Single female flower from the bottom of the synconium of 

 Ficus pumila. c, d, Stamens of the same plant from the upper 

 part of the synconium. g, Synconium of Ficus Carica full 

 of gall-flowers produced by Slastophaga, cut through longi- 

 tudinally; near the mouth of the cavity is a Fig-wasp (Blasto- 

 phaga grossorum) which has escaped from one of the galls. 

 h, Synconium of Ficus Carica full of female flowers, cut 

 through longitudinally; near the mouth of the cavity are two 

 Fig-wasps, one of which has already crept into the cavity, 

 whilst the second is about to do so. k, Male flower, e, A 

 liberated Blastophaga grossorum. f, The same magnified. 

 a, e, g, h, natural size; 6, c, d, k x 5; / x 8. 



(2 oz. to the square yard) or some 

 lime should be sprinkled over 

 the border early in spring more 

 particularly if an annual top- 

 dressing of well -rotted manure 

 is given the preceding autumn. 

 The fruits appear on the 3 r oung 

 shoots, and those that are first to 

 ripen are already to be seen on 

 the plants in autumn and winter 

 when the leaves have fallen. In 

 the sketch (fig. 378) the large 

 fruits shown at a are not likely 

 to pass safely through the winter 

 in the open air; while the smaller 

 ones, shown at b, will. Beneath 

 the smaller fruits there is a bud 

 from which a new shoot will de- 

 velop in spring. As the large 



Fig. 378. Fig-shoots 



a, Fruit-buds too large to winter: 

 b, fruit-buds of right size to winter. 



fruits that are on the shoots in early winter never have a chance of ripen- 

 ing outside, they should be removed. This will induce the trees to throw 

 out a better supply of fruiting shoots in spring. 



