BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FIGS. 985 



liarities of the wasp, her size and capabilities. Under 

 such circumstances, there is but little hope that, for in- 

 stance, the wasp inhabiting the Lower California and 

 Sonora fig species can be made to inhabit and breed in 

 our caprifigs (89). Even the sycamore fig is inhabited 

 by its species of inquilines, but which have never been 

 found in the caprifigs (91). It may, therefore, be as- 

 sumed with great certainty, that only closely allied fig 

 species are inhabited by the same species of Blastophagse. 

 But in many species of figs we find more than one species 

 of Blastophaga. Some figs even are inhabited not only 

 by different species, but also by different genera of true 

 Blastophaga, while the latter again are preyed on by 

 parasitical wasps often equal to them in size. 



SUMMARY. 



Caprification, then, is an horticultural process, based 

 on scientific principles. It has been used since very 

 ancient times, and is yet in vogue in many countries. It 

 is an absolute necessity in places where 'Smyrna figs are 

 grown, or in places where it is of importance to pollinate 

 such figs as possess receptive female flowers. Caprifica- 

 tion causes such figs to set and mature, when otherwise 

 they would fall off immature. This horticultural maturity 

 is caused by and preceded by the botanical maturity of 

 the female flowers. Again, caprification is not required 

 for that great class of figs which sets and ripens fruit 

 without it, except, indeed, it should be found practical, 

 profitable and possible, to produce sufficient seed, in such 

 varieties of this class as possess receptive female flowers 

 in suflicient number. 



