BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FIGS. 909 



Fico della natura, the original wild caprifig, with only 

 one crop a year, this crop developing during the sum- 

 mer and ripening in the fall (22). 



Fico mostro, all caprifigs which bear no fruit or which 

 drop all their hgs while these are yet young; also trees in 

 which the male flowers only arrive at development. 



Fico niiila, with female flowers, which do not develop 

 fertile seed, and which, as he expresses himself, become 

 pomologically but not botanically ripe. 



Fico semi-inula, with no male and with only feinale 

 flowers, which, when pollinated, become botanically ripe, 

 and consequently also pomologically ripe. This fig is 

 undoubtedly the female tree of the caprifig. 



From the descriptions of the other kinds, we may at 

 least conclude that there exist numerous races or variations 

 among the caprifigs. To what extent these variations of 

 the caprifig will prove constant can only be determined 

 by further investigations. 



Among the caprifigs imported to California from various 

 places, we can distinguish several varieties, though on 

 account of the age of the young trees, it is yet too early 

 to properly describe them. One variety possesses large, 

 almost entire or shallow lobed leaves, others have the 

 leaves more lobed. 



The herbarium of the Academy of Sciences in San 

 Francisco possesses specimens of caprifigs from France, 

 with as deeply lobed leaves as any variety I have seen. 



It is evident the varieties of caprifigs are many, distinct 

 as to habits, number of crops, shape and quality of fruit, 

 some even being edible, shape and size of leaves, etc. 

 The importance of the different varieties of caprifigs 

 cannot be overestirnated, as it will certainly be found that 

 a variety which will be suitable in one place, will be a 

 failure in another. Home raised seedling-s should there- 

 fore be resorted to. 



