SMYRNA FIG CULTURE. 



19 



CAPRIFICATION NOT AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION. 



Occasionally fig growers raise objection to the cultivation of Smyrna 

 figs on account of the trouble of caprification, but as there is no other 

 way of raising them the grower must submit to the slight handicap 

 if he wishes to produce dried figs of high quality. It has been found 

 from experience that one man can caprify about 40 acres. His time 

 will be consumed for a period of about three weeks. Mr. George C. 

 Roeding, of Fresno, Gal., says that the cost of the work in his large 

 orchard does not exceed 2 cents per tree, or from $1 to $1.50 per acre. 



Fig. 8. — Change in appearance of figs due to caprification. Two caprified figs are 

 shown on the left, three uncaprified ones on the right. 



WHEN TO GATHER PROFICHI CAPRIFIGS. 



The proper condition for gathering profichi caprifigs is easily ascer- 

 tained by opening a few figs and looking for the appearance of the 

 male, as previously mentioned, but is readily indicated by a slight 

 softening of the fig. 



Experience has developed some methods of handling profichi figs 

 that are worth mentioning. The spring generation of Blastophaga 

 commences to issue from about the tenth of June to the first week in 

 July, the time depending upon the locality and the weather, warm 



