2 
FERTILISATION OF THE FIG. 
obtained at San Francisco should prove sufficiently encourag- 
ing* to our expectations, namely, that a superior fig for drying 
could be produced, by the caprification method. It seems, 
therefore, that every opportunity should be seized upon to 
gain also from other fig-producing countries, either by the 
issuing of circular letters or by other means, the most recent 
data as regards the production of the best kind of figs for 
drying. It must be remembered that the clever fig-growers 
of Asia Minor continue to adhere to the system of artificial 
fertilisation by means of the insect peculiar to the fig, and 
that it would seem incredible in this enlightened age that 
these people should still resort to the ancient method, at con- 
siderable trouble and expense, if no advantages whatever 
could be derived from it. 
The question, it would seem, simply resolves itself to this : 
Is the production of the best kinds of dried figs, such as fetch 
the highest prices in commerce, solely dependent on some 
few select varieties, cultivated in specially adapted regions, in 
peculiar soil, and under particular methods for manuring 
and watering, as all these conditions are likely to be found 
in many parts of Australia also. In that case the caprifica- 
tion process would simply rest on inveterate prejudice. 
On the other side, it is incumbent on us to demonstrate, 
with the great prospect of fig-production also for drying in 
these colonies, how far the action of the Blastophagci does 
really affect the constitution of particular varieties of figs, as 
it seems quite within the range of possibility that to some 
sorts of fig the pollination may prove of distinct advantage, 
and to others not. (See Gasfarrini, Researches on Fig and 
Capri Fig, 1845 to 1860). This seems clearly to demon- 
strate that the enigma could best be solved if the Agricultural 
Departments of the different colonies would unite in finding 
the means — not necessarily very costly — of sending an expert 
who, by autopsy, could investigate the question by spending 
a season in Asia Minor amongst the fig-growers there. If 
speedy action of this kind, on a recommendation of the 
Hobart meeting of the Australasian Association, be taken, we 
might then have the results ready in time for the Adelaide 
meeting, and the conclusions arrived at would probably 
be final. 
Should the horticulturist who may be entrusted with this 
mission be convinced by local inspection that the fertilisation 
of the fig is decidedly recommendable, whether through the 
physiologic stimulus thereby given or by some other yet 
