SMYRNA FIG CULTURE. ! 29 
Perhaps among these the Stanford variety (fig. 11), on account of its 
earliness and nonsplitting character when ripening, is one of the most 
eee. 
Almost any grower of Lob Ingir figs in California can supply cuttings 
at a nominal rate when pruning his trees. This enables a fig orchard 
to be started at a very small cost; though, if preferred, trees can now 
be obtained from most nurserymen. 
One of the indispensable requirements of successful Smyrna fig 
growing is a carefully selected assortment of capri trees. Since the 
undertaking is absolutely dependent on the Blastophaga, it is evident 
that varieties must be selected that experience has shown are capable 
Fic. 12.—The original Milco caprifig tree, Niles, Cal. 
of sustaining all three caprifig crops and all three generations of the 
fertilizing insects. 
The first consideration is to secure capri varieties which never fail 
to carry a good winter (mamme) crop in spite of frosts and adverse 
conditions. This insures insects for an abundant spring (profichi) 
crop and must be followed by a good summer (mammoni) crop. As 
an abundant supply of good caprifigs at the proper season is the 
ultimate object of the capri plantation, four or five of the best kinds 
should be planted at the rate of two good trees to each acre of 
Smyrnas. In this list the grower can not be too earnestly urged to 
include the Milco caprifig, which has proved itself to be one of the 
best to carry all the crops of the caprifig to perfection (fig. 12). 
