Cxi PKOCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



On referring to Dr. Gustav Eisen's work, " The Fig : its History, 

 Culture, and Curing" (Washington, 1901), that author observes that the 

 male flower was first described in 1714 by La Hire, but it is not certain 

 what the Fig was. Another edible variety which regularly produces seed 

 is 1 Crosic,' grown in Brittany. A third is grown at Cherbourg, in which 

 the male flowers are degenerated. These are believed to be edible Caprifigs, 

 and it was thought that their origin might be traced to the Phoenician 



Fig. 177 represents a male flower, much enlarged. It consists of a calyx of five sepals 

 and five stamens, with pollenless anthers. 



Fto. 178 is a female flower, having a calyx of five unequal sepals and a globular ovary to 

 the pistil. This is the usual form of a " gall-flower " in the Finis Caprificus. 



Fio. 179 is the abortive, funnel-shaped stigma, also characteristic of a gall flower, being 

 in adaptation to the ovipositor of the Blastopkaga insect. 



traders at a time when the true edible Figs were yet in an undeveloped 

 condition. 



The ' Pingo de Mel ' would thus seem to resemble the last mentioned. 

 Seedlings raised from Smyrna Figs, which require caprification for 

 maturity, have sometimes male flowers. " Such Figs," observes Dr. 

 Kisen, " must be considered as improved Caprifigs— improved by being 

 raised from seed of Smyrna Figs." These probably contain the usual 

 form of female flowers, and not exclusively those of the gall-flowers of 

 ' Pingo de Mel.' 



