764 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



agation is generally done by succhioni (suckers) springing from the 

 roots, or by talee (cuttings). Seeding propagation is seldom used, as it 

 is difficult, and trees so obtained take a long time to bear. The orchards 

 are small ones in some localities, while in others are pretty large and 

 give favorable production. 



Maturity. The fig-tree lives very long and almost perennial, for the 

 reason that shoots springing from the roots take place of the old trunks 

 on decaying. 



Insect pests. The insects injuring the fruit and tree are : The Bostrico 

 (Bostricus fid) ; the Cocciniglia (Ceroplastes caricae), and the Psilla 

 (Psyllafici). 



The Bostrico is a very small insect, which digs a gallery in the trunk 

 under the bark, causing the tree to rot, and dies. Said insects during 

 the fall and winter abide in lethargy under the bark of the tree, and 

 in summer, after they have joined together with the females, go on the 

 branches to deposit their eggs. 



The u cochineal" is known from the remotest times. At first blush 

 it appears like a small piece of whitish wax, and, in fact, this insect, 

 from its chemical composition, is of a wax nature, and, like the other 

 cochineals, the females protect under them their eggs, and when dead 

 their corpses act as a covering. 



The fig tree, badly attacked by the said insect, follows the same phe- 

 nomenon as the olive tree and acid fruit trees, in similar conditions. 

 The leaves become covered with a sort of black smoke, owing to a very 

 small microbus (fumago) generating from the sticky substance which 

 forms the so-called melata (sugar and gum) exuded from the leaves, 

 on account of the cochineal's presence, although they stay on the 

 branches and not on the leaves. The damages brought the fig tree by 

 the cochineals it is useless to speak of, as they are identical to those 

 caused by other cochineal and aphis. The former insect is a very 

 singular parasite, belonging to the ealcididei's family. To destroy the 

 same, it is necessary to cut all the branches off, when badly attacked, 

 and burn them. 



The psylla is quite different from the olive psylla. It generally lives 

 on the leaves, sucking their humors and causing the tree to become 

 quite a skeleton. Besides destroying them, the branches thrive ill, the 

 fruits fail, and the tree remains damaged. The insect is a little larger 

 than the olive's psylla, with greenish body and large transparent wings. 

 The larva seems to have no waxen secretion, for the fact that no such 

 substance is seen on the leaves like soft cotton. 



VINCENT LAMANTIA, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



January 22, 1890, 



