58 THE SMYENA FIG AT HOME AND ABROAD 



WILD, OR CAPRI S. 



Allusion has already been made in previous chapters to the Capri Fig, and its 

 economic relation to the Smyrna type of figs, so it is not necessary to repeat these 

 facts again. The group is a very extensive one, and comprises hundreds of varieties, 

 which have originated, no doubt, as seedlings in the countries bordering on the 

 Mediterranean where caprification is practiced, and later on the varieties having the 

 greatest value for caprification purposes were propagated and planted in the gardens 

 and suburbs of the towns in the fig districts. Distinct types of these figs are to be 

 found growing in Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, Algeria and Spain. In Asia Minor none 

 of the Male or Wild Figs are named, but in Greece, Italy and Algeria, according to 

 statements made by Messrs. Swingle and Fairchild, agricultural explorers of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture, many of them are described and named. 

 As a rule the trees are readily distinguished from the other figs, by their slender 

 branches and radically different habits of growth. While the writer was examining 

 Capri figs in Asia Minor, however, one variety was discovered which so closely 

 resembled the "Lop" type of figs, not only in its character of growth but in the 

 formation of the leaves as well, he would have pronounced it to be of that variety 

 had it not been loaded with Profichi figs at the time this observation was made. 

 There are fully thirty distinct types of Capri Figs, growing in California today; time 

 and experience will alone determine their value. A short description of the three 

 varieties used in caprifying the Smyrna Figs on the Fancher Creek Nurseries is 

 given herewith. The Profichi crop of figs are by far the largest figs, and are the 

 only ones described, the others possessing no value in the caprification of the Smyrna 

 Figs. 



Roed ing's Capri No. 1. Profichi, about \V Z inches wide by 2y 2 inches long; oblong 

 pyriform; neck long; very few ribs and not pronounced; skin dark, dull green, orifice 

 large; gall flowers very numerous, and male flowers producing an abundance of 

 pollen; tree of a low spreading habit, limbs heavy; leaves very large and dark green 

 color without gloss. Profichi come to maturity a week earlier than Roeding's Capri 

 No. 2. Particularly valuable on account of its producing all the crops necessary 

 for successfully carrying through all the generations of the Blastophaga. Six 

 hundred female insects have been counted coming out of a single fig of this variety. 

 The first Blastophaga were established in the Profichi crop of this variety from the 

 importation made by Mr. Walter T. Swingle, in April, 1899. 



Roeding's Capri No. 2. Profichi about 1% inches wide by 2* inches long, almost 

 globular, with short stalk and neck; ribs distinct; skin very smooth, waxy, greenish 

 yellow; gall flowers numerous; tree of rather erect growth, with slender limbs, 

 leaves medium, light, glossy green color; produces an abundance of the Pro- 

 fichi crop and a limited number of the Mamme, some individual trees, however, 

 producing this crop in abundance. Its value lies principally in the fact of its 

 lengthening the season for caprifying the Smyrna Figs. 



Roeding's Capri No. 3. Profichi about 1% inches wide by 3 inches long; stem 

 short, turbirate, with an extremely short neck; ribs very pronounced and running 

 the full length of the fig; skin light, shining green; orifice very large. Gall flowers 

 as well as male flowers very abundant; tree a rather straggling grower, with heavily 

 noded branches, and of dwarf habit; leaves medium, light green, very rough and 

 serrated; ripens a few days earlier than No. 1, and valuable on this account, being 

 sure to have insects for the first Smyrna Figs, which are in the receptive stage. As 

 high as 1000 female insects will issue from one of these figs. The Mamme of this 

 crop are easily distinguished from the others, by their larger size, distinct ribs, and 

 dark purplish green color. 



