942 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



quantity, though it is true that also some Italian figs of 

 the edible kind produce mature seed. 



This has led me to propose a new theory of the origin 

 of the edible fig, based on the occurrence of different 

 flowers in different varieties of figs, which proves to my 

 mind that not all of our figs are, strictly speaking, de- 

 scended in the same manner from the original ancestor, 

 which however in every instance is the wild or caprifig. 



Fourth Theory. — According to my own views the edible 

 figs are of several different kinds, which in their extremes 

 or types are well characterized. I distinguish at least 

 four different types. 



First Type. — The common edible figs, which produce 

 ripe fruits (receptacles) without caprification and pollina- 

 tion. This type becomes pomologically mature, but does 

 not become botanicall}^ mature, or at least the latter rarely. 

 Its flowers are mainly mule flowers and a few female 

 flowers, but no perfect gall flowers and no male flowers. 

 This class includes nearly all our common edible figs in 

 Europe and California, and all those propagated in hot- 

 houses. This class of figs bears several crops, but there 

 is no great or important diiiference either in the receptacle 

 or in the flowers of the receptive crops. Some of the fig 

 varieties belonging to this type produce a few fertile seed 

 when pollinated or caprificated. 



Second Type. — This type or group comprises tjhe Smyrna 

 figs and is characterized by its flowers which are only fe- 

 male ones, perfectly developed. They produce in abun- 

 dance when pollinated or caprificated. They have no 

 mule flowers, no gall flowers and no male flowers. The 

 fruit becomes botanically ripe and as a consequence of 

 the botanical maturity the receptacle becomes also pomo- 

 logically ripe. This is a purely female type, all the flow- 

 ers being perfectly developed female flowers. This type 



