255 
apart, viz., at least 40 feet or more, the space between utilised for 
some years and, until the figs have attained a large development, 
with Japanese Plums, Peaches, Loquats, Passion Vines, etc., whieh 
can be grubbed out after they have outlived their period of utility. 
Fig trees are very useful for the shelter they afford and for their 
fruit, in pig paddocks; the trunks, however, should then be pro- 
tected as they would be sure to be damaged by the pigs. For all 
practical purposes, edible figs may be considered under three 
classes: (1) the Wild or Capri; (2), The Self-sterile or Smyrna 
type; (3), The Self-fertile or Adriatic type. 
Tus Wiip or Capri—tThe only value of this class of fig is to 
serve as host for the minute wasp (Blastophaga grossorum) which 
enters the self-sterile or Smyrna type of figs and fertilises them. 
In fact, it has been said that the Capri fig and the Smyrna fig stand 
in the relations of male and female to each other. They both, how- 
ever, possess male and female flowers, but these ripen at different 
times and therefore need external interference for their fertilisa- 
tion. 
This is provided by the minute wasp above referred to, and 
which acts in this way: The fruit of the Capri fig, which as a fruit 
is worthless, is like all figs really a hollow inflorescence. It produces 
three crops annually. The profichis first of all; the mammoni, 
which buds out when the profichis are ripe and the third crop or 
second mammoni, which makes its appearance as the first mammom 
ripens. 
These inflorescences are possesed of male and female flowers, 
both with a predominance of male or staminate flowers in the pro- 
fichis, On this account this crop is of more particular value to the 
Smyrna or self-sterile class. The succeeding second and third crops 
or mammonis serve only as a habitat for the fig wasps and enable 
them to tide over the seasons. 
The propagation of the fig wasp proceeds as follows:—The 
female Blastophaga wasp forces its way through the ostolium or eye 
into the fig and having done so lays one egg in each of a number 
of the ovaries of the female flowers and dies within the fig. In 
consequence of this puncture the ovary swells and forms a gall 
with a wasp embryo inside instead of its own embryo. From the 
eggs that are laid some produce wingless male and some winged 
female wasps, the first issuing first; these then gnaw their way into 
the gall ovaries in which the females lie, impregnate them, and die. 
The fertilised winged females then gnaw wider the passage made by 
the males, and either enter the following crop of Capri figs or 
mammonis, or if Smyrna fig trees are close by they penetrate the 
eye of these figs then in proper state of development. In issuing 
from the Capri fig they brush past the staminate or male flowers 
which surround the eye, and issue out of the fig dusted with fig 
pollen. 
