9S6 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



known. Later writers on figs have endeavored to show 

 that his theories were, founded principally on book learn- 

 ing, and not on observation (62). I am not of that opinion, 

 as his statements show a frankness and fairness entirely 

 indicative of truthfulness. Gallesio holds that there are 

 two races of figs, one which requires caprification in 

 order to mature its fruit, and one which matures without 

 the aid of this operation. The different requirements 

 between the two fig races depend upon a difference in 

 construction of the figs, and each race retains its charac- 

 teristics, regardless of the influences of soil and climate. 

 The difference in construction lies in the ovary of the fig. 

 Some figs have ovaries without ovules, and those figs 

 which cannot be fertilized, can also not feel the action of 

 the pollen from the caprifig. These are the mule figs. 

 The other class of figs, with perfect ovules, are sensitive 

 of the pollen, and under its influence develop perfect 

 seeds. These he calls semi-mules. The fecundation 

 causes the juices to flow to the fig and effects its luaturity. 

 The caprifig alone containing the pollen is, therefore, 

 necessary, and the only way to apply it is through capri- 

 fication. 



Gallesio also describes a caprifig with only female 

 flowers — " the fico semi-mula" (63). His statement that 

 the original wild caprifig bore only one crop of figs, is 

 shown by Solms-Laubach (64) to be erroneous, or at least 

 very improbable. 



In the middle of our century the Italian botanist, 

 Guglielmo Gasparrini, published a series of four differ- 

 ent treatises upon figs and caprification, extending in time 

 from 1845 to 1862, No one has contributed so much to 

 our knowledge of caprification as Gasparrini, and no one 

 has made as many original researches as he has done. 

 Gasparrini, as Olivier before him, takes a decided stand 



