NOTES ON RECENT RESEARCH. 



245 



crop possesses male flowers as well as gall flowers with wasps. This 

 crop is not edible. The second crop contains perfect female flowers. 

 Solms-Laubach states that this second crop or Mammoni possessed both 

 female flowers with perfect embryos and gall flowers with wasps. 



[One of the Figs grown at the gardens of the Royal Horticultural 

 Society at Chiswick is called ' Pingo de Mel.' It contains male flowers, 

 but there is no pollen. The remainder are, in shape, all gall flowers, but 

 of course without the Blastophaga. The origin of this Fig has not at 

 present been traced beyond its having come from Portugal. — G. H.] 



With the exception of the Smyrna Figs all other cultivated sorts bear 

 no seeds. Being entirely female and never caprificated they mature 

 without them, like certain Cucumbers, Bananas, Pears, Oranges, &c. The 

 Smyrna Figs, however, cannot ripen without also containing fertile seeds. 

 They contain no male flowers ; hence caprification is essential. 



The Smyrna Figs were first imported into California in 1880, but for 

 ten years not a single ripe fruit was borne. They were tried in various 

 districts, bore abundance of Figs with flowers, but they invariably fell. 



Experimenting in 1882, by introducing pollen when the female flowers 

 were receptive, numerous fully mature and perfect Smyrna Figs were 

 obtained. In 1900 several thousand Smyrna Fig trees were caprificated 

 in the Roeding Orchard, near Fresno. The result was that some six tons 

 of dried Figs of the true Smyrna varieties were produced. In 1901 

 30,000 Caprifigs were used. There exist now in California some five or 

 six different varieties of the genuine Smyrna Figs and some nineteen 

 different kinds of Caprifigs. 



The remainder of this chapter on caprification is devoted to a descrip- 

 tion, with figures, of the Blastophaga, and an account of its life-history, 

 practical caprification, and its effects. 



A few words on the importance of seeds in dried Figs are added, 

 showing the superiority in flavour of Figs in which the oily embryo has 

 been developed, as this imparts an aromatic and nutty taste. It is only 

 during the process of drying that the aromatic taste of the seed is per- 

 meated through the pulp of the Fig. Smyrna Figs when dried are there- 

 fore more highly flavoured than any other Figs. 



Paragraphs follow upon the kinds of Figs which should be caprifi- 

 cated, where it is practised, on the different species of Blastophaga in 

 different species of Figs. 



This fourth chapter then concludes with historical notes on caprifi- 

 cation. — G. H. (See also p. 309.) 



Fungicides and Insecticides. 



Fungicides and Insecticides. Various authors (Mass. U.S.A. 

 Hatch Exp. Sta., Bull. No. 80, pp. 1-15; 1902).— The following mixtures 

 are selected from a number of others the preparation of which may be 

 of some service to English horticulturists. It should be borne in mind, 

 however, that fungicides and insecticides may vary in their effect under 

 certain climatic conditions. It is important, therefore, that all the 

 formulas or mixtures recommended by other countries should be tested 

 on a small scale before making wholesale applications. 



