BIOLOGICAL, STUDIES OF FIGS. lOOI 



hatching have new caprifigs of proper size in which to lay their eggs. If 

 these new figs are not found on the same tree from which the wasps hatch 

 they must be present on other trees in the vicinity. The failure of the 

 first importation of Blastophaga to California can therefore not be won- 

 dered at. With only one caprifig tree and that one bearing only one crop 

 a year, this importation could not jjossibly have been a success. 



98. The most interesting and astonishing discovery of parthenogenesis 

 in the'wild tig was first made by D. Cunningham on the various forms of 

 flowers of Ficus Eoxbnrghii. His experiments and observations on the 

 flowers of this fig species, both before and after the access of the Blas- 

 tophagas, show conclusively that parthenogenesis takes place in this 

 species and that the Blastophaga is necessary not only to produce seed in 

 the female flowers, but also to perfect the male flowers. For a full account 

 of this see his work: D. D. Cunningham, on the Phenomena of Fertiliza- 

 tion in Ficus Koxburghii, Wall. Annals of the Eoyal Botanic Garden, 

 Calcntta, Vol. I. 



99. Seedlings would invariably have a tendency to bring male flowers 

 in the fig. 



