BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FIGS. 



905 



gall flowers and a few female flowers, capable of pro- 

 ducing seed after having been pollinated by the male 

 flowers of the profichi or previous crop. 



The various crops of the caprifig do not always succeed 

 each other continuously. There is frequently a lapse of 

 time between the falling of the profichi and the appear- 

 ance of the mammoni. No account has here been taken 

 of the female caprifig tree, as yet almost unknown. 



CHAEACTEEISTICS OF THE CEOPS OF THE CAPEIFIG. 



Male Flowers. 



Mamme, or 1st crop.| Wanting, or very few, 

 Profichi, or 2d crop.' Very many. 

 Mammoni, or 3d crop. Few. 



Female Flowers. 



Wanting. 

 Wanting. 

 Very few. 



GallFlowers. 



Many. 

 Many. 

 Many. 



Characteristics of the Cro^s of the Edible Fig. — As to 

 the edible figs the different crops are different in size, 

 quality, flavor, sweetness and sometimes in color. The 

 first crop, the "fiori," fig fleurs, ficos lampas, brebas, 

 etc., are large figs, not very sweet, but pulpy and luscious 

 for eating fresh, and they are highly prized on that 

 account. The different names given to these large figs 

 indicate the value in which they are held. The differ- 

 ence is considered so important that for instance in Spain 

 and Mexico the common people will insist that the "bre- 

 bas" are not figs. In California, however, no great dis- 

 tinction is made as to the three crops. When fig culture 

 becomes as important here as it now is in Europe and 

 Asia, names may be required for the first crop of edible 

 figs. We have already proposed for the first crop the 

 name "brebas," now used in all Spanish-speaking coun- 

 tries. 



A large number of figs do not produce any first crop 



