BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF FIGS. 999 



mon edible figs would cause these to drop is not known. This is a most 

 interesting field for experiment. 



84. I was the first one to call attention to the value of the fig-seed as a 

 source of aroma and flower in dried figs. This is now almost everywhere 

 accepted as true and as being one of the chief causes of the superiority of 

 the Smyrna fig over the Italian figs, the latter seldom possessing seed in 

 any quantity. Leclerc was the first one to point out the superiority of 

 caprificated figs — in Algiers — but he does not mention the cause (p. 332; 

 see also (54). 



85. See above page. 



86. To what extent common figs are benefitted by caprificatiou cannot 

 as yet be determined. Gasparrini demonstrated that many of the Italian 

 varieties were not benefitted by the procees, but rather injured. It may, 

 however, be possible that figs of the common kind which contain more 

 female flowers than usual are benefitted by developing seed. 



87. As noted already by Theophrast, Tournefort,',01ivier and by Gaspar- 

 rini. The practice is probably not uncommon among ignorant people. 



88. Solms-Laubach, II, p. 2 following. The account of the diff"erent 

 Blastophaga species is mostly from the above work. 



89. At present nothing absolutey certain can be decided until the experi- 

 ment has been properly tried, but taking in consideration the fact that 

 distantly related figs species have always been found to be inhabited by 

 different species of Blastophagte, nothing practical is likely to come out 

 of such trials. As regards the actual introduction by me of such Blasto- 

 phagaa, I may say that it was done without any expectation of success. 

 The well known entomologist, Dr. E. A. Schwartz, of Washington, D. C, 

 writes me: "It is a serious error to believe that any of the species of 

 Blastophaga found in the wild figs of Lower California and Mexico can be 

 colonized on the caprifig. The only way to introduce them is to have 

 caprifig trees grown in pots in Asia Minor, for instance, and when the 

 Blastophagas have been colonized on them, to transport them here in 

 living and healthy condition, with the figs yet attached." Even more 

 closely related fig species are generally inhabited by distinct species of 

 Blastophaga. This indicates a difference in the structure of the fig 

 flowers. 



90. According to Solms-Laubach, II, p. 2 and following, these fig 

 species and their inquilines were as follows: Covellia subopposita in- 

 habited by Blastophaga constricta; the Covellia canescens by Bl. Solmsi; 

 Covellia lepicarpa by Bl. bisulcata; while in the vicinity were found Ficus 

 Kibes inhabited by Blastophaga erassipes; Ficus (or Urostigma) religiostim 

 by Blastophaga clavigera; Ficus diversifolia by Blastophaga quadripes; 

 Ficus hirta by Blastophaga Javana, etc. 



91. The Sycomore fig (Sycomorus antiquorum) is inhabited by the Syco- 

 phaga Sycomori, in general appearance quite similar to the Blastophaga of 



