110 TILLERS OF THE GROUND CHAP. 



sent from Algeria to California, and arrived full of 

 resting-wasps. These figs, with the contained wasps, 

 were placed beneath a caprifig tree in California, 

 the tree being carefully covered over so as to 

 prevent the escape of any wasps. Everything was 

 done with the greatest care, but the people in the 

 orchard had very little faith in the result. They 

 thought the wasps were probably dead, and they 

 had tried so long that they seem to have become 

 a little hopeless. However, with or without faith, 

 they took all the trouble they could. 



The care was justified, for by the autumn it was 

 found that this caprifig tree was loaded with capri- 

 figs, many of which were full of wasps ready for 

 the winter. In spite of the tent over the tree 

 also, some of the wasps had escaped, some had 

 fertilised edible figs in the orchard, and some had 

 found a winter home on neighbouring caprifig trees. 

 Would the precious wasps live through the winter ? 

 That was the question. Everybody was determined 

 that all man could do should be done to help them 

 to do it. 



Besides the original caprifig tree, two neigh- 

 bouring trees were found to have so many wasps in 

 their figs as to be worth protecting. Round these 

 three trees an elaborate canvas house was built, so 

 arranged that in fine weather the trees could be 

 simply covered, but if frost was probable they 



