PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 45 



and successful introduction of the fig wasp, except to say that it was 

 sent to me several times by correspondents, and although the insects 

 issued from the figs, our capri figs were evidently not in condition to 

 receive them, and they failed to establish themselves. For years I 

 had endeavored to interest various secretaries of the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture in the subject, without success. It was not until my 

 friend, B. N. Rowley, now deceased, proprietor and editor of the Cali- 

 fornia Fruit-Grower, who, by the way, was also skeptical on the subject 

 of caprification, finally consented, after my repeated demonstrations 

 that there was something in it, to bring the matter before the State 

 Board of Trade. I sent him specimens of figs produced by artificial 

 pollination, capri figs, etc., and he delivered an address on the subject. 

 As a result of this conference a committee was appointed, consisting 

 of Messrs. Rowley, M aslin, and Filcher, to draft a letter to Hon. James 

 Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. This letter went into the subject 

 fully, and as a result Mr. Wilson promptly communicated with Dr. 

 L. 0. Howard, Chief of the Division of Entomology, and Mr. Walter 

 T. Swingle, Agricultural Explorer for the Division of Seed and Plant 

 Introduction, who was then studying in Italy in the interests of his 

 division. 



Several consignments of insects were sent me in March and April 

 in the years 1898 and 1899, and I took care of the infested figs, placing 

 them under tees which had been previously inclosed in canvas tents. 

 Former experiments along the same line in earlier years had always 

 resulted in failures and I anticipated no better success with these 

 later shipments, but nevertheless determined to give the insects every 

 care. Much to my surprise, in June, 1899, I discovered by accident 

 that the wasp, after so many years of uninterrupted effort on my part, 

 had finally consented to be listed among our prize immigrants. 



Since success often leads to forgetfulness, I desire to say a few words 

 in honor of a man who never lost faith in the future of this industry, 

 but who devoted time, money, and land for the purpose of carrying 

 out his experiments. This was E. W. Maslin, who did not complete 

 his work, because he sold his ranch to engage in other pursuits. It 

 was he who, as far back as 1885, fully realized the inferiority of figs 

 grown in California as compared with the world-famous Smyrna figs. 

 In 1885 and 1886 he purchased the best dried Smyrna figs the market 

 afforded, washed out the seeds, planted them in boxes, and when the 

 seedlings were large enough, put them out in orchard form on his farm 

 in Loomis, Placer County. Much time and care were bestowed on 

 the trees, and Mr. Maslin looked forward with fond hopes to a suc- 

 cessful realization of his well-directed efforts. As the trees grew, 

 Mr. Maslin got the impression that all were of the same type, and my 

 recollection of the orchard in its infancy coincided, as near as I can 



