ii8 state; pomologicai^ society. 



bds and details, some of the practical results of insect agencies 

 in cross-fertilization were then considered.] 



These are best seen in cases where a plant is transferred from 

 its native environment to a new one. The early settlers of Aus- 

 tralia, finding the soil suitable for the cultivation of clover, soon 

 sent for clover seed and grew a splendid crop — for one year 

 only. Similar experiments elsewhere in that country gave 

 results equally unsatisfactory, and it was not until the bumble- 

 bee, the chief agent in fertilizing clover, was introduced that 

 this crop was successfully cultivated. 



In southern California there is an extensive area well fitted 

 by climate and soil for the growth of figs. Many successful 

 introductions of fig trees have been made, but in the past it has 

 been impossible to obtain a crop of figs except by the laborious 

 method of securing the cross-fertilization by hand labor. Even 

 then the figs were inferior in size and quality. The peculiar 

 flavor of the fig is due to the seeds it contains. The fewer the 

 seeds, the poorer the flavor. Experts sent abroad by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture, found that the Smyrna fig, 

 the fig of commerce, was fertilized by pollen brought from the 

 wild Capri fig by a small insect which bred in the interior of 

 wild fruit, and emerging, covered with pollen, made its way 

 into the cultivated fruit. The introduction of these living 

 insects while breeding in wild figs was a task surrounded -by 

 many difficulties, and to the credit of the entomologist and other 

 agents of the Department, it should be recorded that eventually 

 all these difftculties were successfully overcome. Last summer^ 

 for the first time, there were grown in California Smyrna figs, 

 of the best quality, fertilized by the imported Asiatic fig insect. 

 The far-reaching results of this undertaking are difficult to 

 predict, but it is certain by the successful introduction of this 

 little insect, a new industry has been opened to the fruit growers 

 of the far Southwest. 



Such cases as these are more interesting because they are 

 unique. Of equal importance are those which we may find in 

 every orchard and garden. Without insect help, our fruit, 

 berry, nut and many of our vegetable crops would be reduced to 

 a minimum, and our finances, our comfort, and our health suffer 

 to a corresponding degree. I am not familiar with the data of 

 the Maine census, but in the little state of Massachusetts we 



