122 
be returned, in the month covered by this report out of 4,251 
parcels only 100 were ordered returned. Of this 100, 50 came 
on the "Mexican" from the Sound and were fearfully scabby. 
The shippers seemed to have been aware of the inferiority of the 
shipment for they instructed their local consignees to have the 
shipment destroyed here. 
INSECT IMPORTATIONS. 
Four lots of live insects were received during the month. Three 
of them were for the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, 
namely, one from San Francisco and two from the Orient. In 
order to dispatch their reaching their destination these insects 
come addressed to the Superintendent of this Division. Thanks 
to the extreme courtesy of the customs and steamship officials no 
time is lost in the transfer here, and thus the two cages of live 
insects brought by the "Korea" were in the Experiment Station 
an hour and a quarter after the ship's docking. The fourth lot 
was addressed to Mr. Craw and contained a colony of the Smyrna 
fig insect (Blastophaga grossorum), kindly sent by Dr. Roeding 
of the Fancher Creek Nurseries, California. 
SMYRNA FIG INSECT. 
As the Commissioners are doubtless informed this insect is es- 
sential for the production of perfect Smyrna figs. The fruit of 
the Symrna fig contains female flowers only and unless the ma- 
jority of these is fertilized the fig lacks the characteristic nutty 
flavor of the Smyrna fig formerly produced only in that country, 
now also in California. The male flowers are borne on separate 
trees known as Capri trees and the pollen from these is trans- 
ported to the Smyrna fig by the Blastophaga. This insect in its 
native home, as well as in California now, breeds normally within 
the figs produced by the Capri or male tree. In the spring or 
about the time the Smyrna fig has attained a certain stage of de- 
velopment large numbers of impregnated females issue from the 
over-wintering fruit, called Mamme, on the Capri-fig trees, their 
bodies more or less smeared with pollen, and enter the Smyrna 
figs. While within the fruit searching for a place to oviposit 
they fertilize a large number of the female flowers which results in 
the production of a large number of seeds, thus giving the Smyrna 
fig its very much relished flavor. 
Dr. Roeding sent us six Mamme figs infested with Blastophaga 
and wrapped in tissue paper. This paper when unwrapped, in the 
majority of cases, contained a large number of dead Blastophaga 
of both sexes : one of the figs was badly molded. Time did not 
permit to ascertain whether any of the insects were living and not 
wishing to take chances they were immediately placed where they 
had the best available opportunity for propagation. Some three 
