38 BULLETIN 732, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



large, pyriform, with short neck and long stem. Color light grayish green, covered 

 with small gray dots, especially toward the neck, ribs distinct; eye small, scales not 

 protruding, apex flat; skin very thin and delicate, cracking at full maturity, showing 

 the white flesh beneath; pulp a rich brilliant red, seeds small and numerous. A 

 first-class table fig, grown exclusively for that purpose in the Smyrna district of Asia 

 Minor. Roeding says that scattering trees are to be found in gardens near Smyrna 

 and in the foothills a few miles from the city. They are always caprified, but not so 

 systematically as in the fig district proper. 



CAPRI VARIETIES. 



Milco. — Tree vigorous, symmetrical, spreading, dense top, clean, smooth trunk and 

 branches (fig. 5); leaves medium to large, three to five lobed, dark glossy green above, 

 lighter below, lobes bluntly pointed, finely to coarsely dentate, sinuses shallow; 

 petioles half the length of the blade and with the veins hairy; stipules pointed, green, 

 turning brown when falling; profichi fruit medium to large, turbinate, lopsided; 

 neck short and stout; stem short, but increasing in length on those figs growing toward 

 the end of the old wood; ribs prominent when young, smoothing out as the size in- 

 creases; quite firm when the insects are ready to issue; color dark green, lighter 

 toward the stem, assuming a reddish brown at maturity; eye small, with pinkish 

 scales. This caprifig is unique in having a few male flowers scattered among the gall 

 flowers; cluster of stamens not large; gall zone well developed and generally filling 

 the cavity of the receptacle; flesh greenish white, with band of dark violet stain. 

 The profichi crop, with its generation of Blastophaga, matures later than most varieties. 

 There is little doubt that the variety was imported from Italy by the late W. B. West, 

 of Stockton, under the name Verdoni, but was exploited by G. N. Milco, whose name 

 became attached to it. 



The Milco is an early bearer and one of the most valuable figs in cultivation. It car- 

 ried its annual crop of fruit and fig wasps for 40 years on the old Gates tree, 10 miles 

 west of Modesto, Cal., and on others in the vicinity of Lathrop, Cal., unaided by other 

 trees in the neighborhood. 



Loomis. — A very thrifty, open-topped tree; leaves three to five lobed, a few entire; 

 lobes broad toward the apex and obtuse, sinuses shallow, edges finely to coarsely ser- 

 iate; petioles half the length of the blade and with veins greenish white, slightly 

 tomentose; upper surface glossy green and. very rough, under surface lighter and 

 smooth. Foliage holds later than most trees. Stipules purplish brown when falling. 

 Mamme crop good, up to half an inch to 1J inches in diameter. The figs of the profichi 

 crop are very large, up to 2\ inches in diameter, and have a distinct neck and promi- 

 nent ribs. This tree never fails to carry a good mamme crop, and it produces one of 

 the earliest profichi crops in the orchard. 



Newcastle. — Knobby trunk with spreading top, thrifty; leaves rough glossy green 

 with three to five lobes, mostly five, sinuses broad, half the depth of tie blade, no over- 

 lapping of the lobes, margins coarsely serrate and lobes acute, petioles short, one-half 

 the length of the blade, creamy white; leaves slightly glossy, green and rough above, 

 lighter green beneath ; petioles and veins slightly tomentose ; carrying a fair mamme 

 crop from three-quarters of an inch to 1} inches in diameter. Mammoni crop fair, 

 containing many seeds. Produces an early profichi crop. Tree vigorQus and holding 

 foliage late. 



Mason. — A thrifty, spreading tree, dense top, clean, smooth trunk; leaves with 

 three to five lobes, smooth surfaces, upper side dark green, under side a little lighter, 

 sinuses deep, one-half to two-thirds the length of the blade, edges finely serrate to wavy, 

 points of the lobes obtuse ; petioles one-third to one-half the length of the blade, veins 

 slightly tomentose. A splendid and very early caprifig, never failing to carry a 

 mamme crop through the winter. Profichi figs large, with enormous staminate cluster 

 and a long season. 



