32 



FIG CULTURE 



rieties grown in the Meander Valley of Asia . 

 Minor, all of which require pollenation. The pro- 

 cess is based upon the fact that the female flowers 

 inside the edible figs, which are open at the eye like 

 a shell, when green, require contact with pollen 

 from male flowers in order to mature. In Asia 

 Minor natives bring the wasps to their cultivated 

 orchards in the low lands by cutting off limbs from 

 wild fig trees, which grow abundantly in the hills, 

 and as the wild trees are permanent homes for 

 blastophagse the branches removed contain insects 

 which soon emerge from the green fruit, and then 

 travel so incessantly on cultivated trees where they 

 are placed, constantly entering and emerging from 

 the green edible figs, that the pollen is distributed 

 from their legs and wings over the innumerable fe- 

 male flowers inside of each shell, and furnish fer- 

 tility necessary for the growth and maturity of the 

 fruit. The activity of the wasps is due to their 

 search for places to lay eggs. 



There are now more than four hundred acres in 

 California bearing profitable Smyrna figs. Although 

 still in its infancy, the industry will in time grow to 

 be an important one — judging from the yields per 

 acre and the readiness with which dried fruit is sold 

 at good prices. The few packages that reach the 

 Central States have fine flavor, and in appearance 

 they arc superior to any Smyrnas sold in this coun- 

 try. Calimyrna cultivation will, doubtless, be con- 

 fined to the inland counties of California, on ac- 



