ON THE CAPRIFICATION OF FIGS. 
245 
checking the growth of luxuriant growing fruit trees, they may be 
very early thrown into a bearing state, provided they are in a favour¬ 
able soil and situation. 
A few more particulars respecting the culture and forwarding cauli¬ 
flowers, peas, &c., might be added here, but these must be taken up at 
another opportunity. 
ON THE CAPRIFICATION OF FIGS. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 
Sir, —At Malta and in Provence the maturation of figs is accele¬ 
rated by pricking them at the open end with a straw dipped in olive 
oil, and I have no doubt the practice may be followed with great suc¬ 
cess in this country. This method may more than probably have 
originated in the observation of some naturalist, relative to the habits 
of a peculiar dark-coloured fly, which is much smaller than the common 
house fly, having, to the best of my recollection, a sharp and narrow 
head, narrow and flat body, with short wings, and its structure in 
other respects is admirably calculated to penetrate minute orifices. 
This insect undergoes its various changes in the fig of the male tree, 
which fruit very seldom exceeds in size the largest acorn, when it 
turns yellow, withers, and falls; about this period the insect emerges 
or escapes from its dwelling, in its ultimate form, and proceeds in 
quest of nourishment from the fig of the bearing or female tree, which 
it enters at the crown or upper end, as it approaches maturation, and 
in the south of Spain so confidently is the presence of this insect con¬ 
sidered necessary, to produce or occasion the highest state of perfection 
in the fig, that I have seen persons collect and string transversely the 
figs of the male tree, which they have placed on the upper branches of 
the bearing tree, for the purpose of more effectually ensuring the opera¬ 
tions of this useful fly. 
I am of opinion that the fig tree is partly aquatic, for in countries 
where it is indigenous it will be found growing in the greatest 
luxuriance, in a light soil, which is either very near water, or often 
irrigated. 
Hi jo de Espana. 
10th. June , 1835. 
