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fig cuttings in order to simulate as nearly as possible the climatic con- 
ditions under which the caprifig grows most successfully in the Orient. 
Communicating with Washington, the first shipment of caprifigs from 
Mr. Swingle fortunately arrived at Fresno while the writer was there. 
They had been sent from Naples, the locality in which Dr. Paul Mayr had 
made his studies. Mr. Swingle had adopted an ingenious and eminently 
successful method of packing. Each green caprifig was carefully and 
closely wrapped in tin foil, the end being covered with wax. On 
arrival at Fresno the female Blastophagas were seen to be emerging 
from the gall figs. Unfortunately, however, with them were a number 
of specimens of Philotrypesis carice Hasselquist, the one figured and 
described by Paul Mayr as Ichneumon phycarius Cavolini. Mr. Roed- 
ing readily distinguished between the female Blastophaga and this 
parasite and destroyed all the parasites noticed. By the writer’s 
advice a caprifig tree was inclosed in a thin cloth tent and subsequent 
sendingsof caprifigs were placed in this inclosure and the Blastophagas 
were liberated. 
Then a year elapsed without result. None of the caprifigs on the 
inclosed tree were stung by the Blastophagas, or if stung no larve 
developed so far as Mr. Roeding could observe, although subsequent 
developments would seem to indicate that there is a possibility of a_ 
partial establishment of the species from the spring of 1898. 
In the meantime Mr. Swingle had been transferred to the section of 
seed and plant introduction of the Division of Botany, and commis- 
Sioned as an agricultural explorer to work on the introduction into the 
United States of desirable plants, with all traveling expenses paid. In 
the course of his work he went to Greece, and from there sent additional 
varieties of caprifigs to this country, which were forwarded to Mr. 
Roeding and planted under differing conditions. 
In the winter he went to Algeria and sent other cuttings and one 
large caprifig tree 10 feet or more high and perhaps 4 inches in diame- 
ter. This was also sent to Mr. Roeding, and, although the long journey 
had apparently reduced its vitality so much that Mr. Roeding feared 
that it would not live, it was planted, and at latest advices is in excel- 
lent condition. As the spring opened Mr. Swingle again began his 
sendings of the gall figs, packed as before, and which as before were 
placed by Mr. Roeding under the artificial inclosure. On March 31, 
1899, six boxes of caprifigs were received by the writer and forwarded 
to Mr. Roeding; on April 5 one more box, and on April 6 the eighth 
and last. On April 6 the first boxes were received by Mr. Roeding. 
The fruits seemed to be in excellent condition. He cut several open 
and found them full of Blastophagas in the pupa condition. Allof the 
figs were cut open and placed under the covered tree. 
It must here be said that none of the persons connected with the 
work had much hope of the establishment of the fig insect by this 
method on account of previous failures. It was tried because the oppor- 
